New Delhi: More than 37 lakh cases of dog bites and 54 suspected human rabies deaths were reported during 2024, govt said on Tuesday.
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, minister of state for fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying SP Singh Baghel said that municipalities were responsible to control the stray dog population.
Baghel said they are implementing the Animal Birth Control Programme to regulate the population of stray dogs.
In addition, the Centre has notified the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, which focuses on the neutering and anti-rabies vaccination of stray dogs, he said.
Baghel said his ministry issued an advisory in 2024 to states, asking them to implement the ABC Programme and related activities through local bodies, as part of its objective to ensure the safety of kids.
