New Delhi, July 22: India recorded 37,17,336 dog bite cases and 54 suspected human rabies deaths in 2024, according to data shared in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, S.P. Singh Baghel.
Under Article 243(W) of the Constitution, municipal bodies are tasked with implementing the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme, which focuses on the sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination of stray dogs. To strengthen this initiative, the Centre rolled out the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, replacing the earlier 2001 guidelines.
The new rules incorporate directions from the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court, emphasizing the humane care and feeding of community animals. The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has issued several advisories to help control the stray dog population and reduce man-dog conflicts. Between January 2024 and June 2025, 166 letters were sent to Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and local authorities urging strict implementation.
On the health front, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is spearheading the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP). This includes setting up Model Anti-Rabies Clinics, ensuring the availability of vaccines, and launching the "Rabies-Free City" campaign.
Under the ASCAD scheme, the Centre allocated ₹3,535.86 lakh over the past five years for anti-rabies vaccine procurement, with ₹1,423.41 lakh earmarked for 2024–25 alone, covering over 80 lakh vaccine doses.
States and Union Territories have been encouraged to adopt the ABC Programme through local bodies to improve public safety, particularly for vulnerable groups like children.
The Department of Animal Husbandry continues to conduct a five-year livestock census, which includes stray dog counts. Municipalities have also been advised to carry out annual local censuses as mandated by the updated ABC Rules.
