Question : Cruelty against Animals

(a) the steps being taken by the Government to check cruelty against animals in the country;
(b) whether all States have constituted three tier board/Committees to check cruelty against animals and if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, the names of the States/UTs where the said boards/Committees have not been constituted;
(d) whether the Government has written to States/UTs to set up shelters for stray animals; and
(e) if so, the States which have set up shelter for stray animals, State/UT-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a)Government of India has enacted the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and has framed various rules under the Act to prevent cruelty against animals in the country.

(b)and (c) The States/ UTs have constituted the State Animal Welfare Boards. Further, many of the States have also constituted/ are in the process of constituting District level Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCAs).

(d) and (e) Animal Welfare Board of India has been continuously issuing advisories to the States/ UTs for setting up of shelters for stray animals.

Further, the Government through Animal Welfare Board of India is implementing the Scheme for Provision of Shelter House for looking after the animals under which grant-in-aid is provided to Non Governmental Organisations/ Animal welfare organisations for establishment and maintenance of shelter houses for care and protection of stray animals.

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