In recent news, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying has introduced the Animal Birth Control Rules for the year 2023, replacing the previous regulations from 2001.
These updated rules, enacted under the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960, aim to enhance and refine measures taken to control animal birth rates while ensuring the well-being and protection of animals across India.
Background: Addressing the Surge in Dog Bites
India has witnessed a significant increase in street and stray dog bites between 2019 and 2022, with a staggering 160 million reported cases as of November 2022, according to data presented in Parliament.
Provisions of the Animal Birth Control Rules
The Animal Birth Control Rules are formulated in strict adherence to the guidelines set forth by the Hon’ble Supreme Court regarding the Animal Welfare Board of India and People for Elimination of Stray Troubles.
Through Animal Birth Control programmes, these regulations seek to set detailed requirements for the sterilisation and vaccination of stray dogs.
The responsibility for implementing ABC programs rests with the respective local bodies, including municipalities, municipal corporations, and panchayats. Municipal Corporations are particularly entrusted with the joint implementation of ABC and Anti-Rabies Programs.
The Menace of Rabies in India
The zoonotic viral illness rabies, which damages the central nervous system, is avoidable. Except for Antarctica, it occurs on all continents, with Asia and Africa being the scene of more than 95% of all deaths.
The disease is primarily transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, such as dogs, cats, and monkeys, usually through a bite.
Every year on September 28, World Rabies Day is marked to increase awareness and support international prevention and control initiatives. The Alliance for Rabies Control and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta convened the first World Rabies Day in 2007.
The theme for World Rabies Day 2022 is “One Health, Zero Death,” highlighting the interconnectedness of the environment with the health of both humans and animals.
Initiatives Related to Rabies
In alignment with this mission, the National Centre for Disease Control has partnered with the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying to develop the National Action Plan for Dog Mediated Rabies Elimination by 2030.
Replacing Older Provisions: Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, is a groundbreaking legislation that explicitly safeguards the rights of animals and protects them from the pain and suffering inflicted by humans.
Moreover, the Act includes specific provisions regarding the ethical treatment of animals in scientific experiments and the exhibition of performing animals, along with corresponding offences related to these activities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the newly introduced Animal Birth Control Rules for 2023 aim to address the surge in dog bites and control animal birth rates in India.
These rules, in adherence to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960, provide comprehensive guidelines for sterilisation and immunisation programs for stray dogs.
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