Executive Summary:
This document presents the answer given in the Lok Sabha regarding the funds allocated, disbursed, and utilised for various schemes under the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) during the last five years. It includes details of funds sanctioned and received by Animal Welfare Organisations (AWOs) and Gaushalas, reasons for non-disbursement, audit details, and actions taken against non-compliant organisations. The answer was provided on August 12, 2025, by the Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Schemes Implemented by AWBI:**
* Regular and Rescue Cattle Grant
* Shelter Houses for the care of animals
* Ambulance Services for animals in distress
* Birth Control and Immunization of stray dogs
* Relief to animals during natural calamities
* **Fund Disbursement:**
* AWBI disburses funds based on demands received from AWOs, with limited funds available.
* Funds are released to eligible AWOs and Gaushalas based on scheme guidelines.
* Release of funds follows receipt of a favourable inspection report from the State Animal Husbandry Department.
* Funds are not disbursed in cases of non-compliance, ineligible proposals, absence of a favourable inspection report, or non-submission of required documents (including utilization certificates).
* **Auditing and Compliance:**
* AWBI requires organisations to submit Utilization Certificates (UCs) certified by Chartered Accountants with a valid Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN), along with audited accounts.
* AWBI officials conduct sample inspections of beneficiary organisations to verify fund utilization.
* The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India conducts annual audits of AWBI, including fund release to AWOs and their utilization status.
* Audit Reports, along with the Annual Report, are laid before the Parliament.
* No adverse comments have been made by the CAG in these audits.
Impact Analysis:
* **Animal Welfare Organisations (AWOs) and Gaushalas**
* Impact: AWOs and Gaushalas are directly affected by the fund allocation and disbursement policies of the AWBI. Their operations and projects are contingent on receiving funds and adhering to the guidelines.
* Action Required: AWOs and Gaushalas must submit eligible proposals, comply with prescribed norms, ensure favourable inspection reports, and submit all required documents (including utilization certificates) to receive funding.
* **State Animal Husbandry Departments**
* Impact: These departments play a crucial role in inspecting and recommending AWOs and Gaushalas for financial support.
* Action Required: Conduct thorough inspections of AWOs and Gaushalas and provide timely and accurate inspection reports to AWBI.
* **Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)**
* Impact: The AWBI is responsible for implementing and monitoring animal welfare schemes and ensuring proper utilisation of funds.
* Action Required: Ensure transparent and efficient fund disbursement, conduct sample inspections, verify utilization certificates, and address any non-compliance issues.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies related to fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairying.
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying: A department within the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, responsible for animal husbandry and dairying policies.
Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI): A statutory advisory body to the Government of India on animal welfare laws, and promotes animal welfare in general.
Rajiv Ranjan Singh Alias Lalan Singh: The Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
Regular and Rescue Cattle Grant: A scheme implemented by the Animal Welfare Board of India.
Animal Welfare Organisations (AWOs): Organizations that work towards animal welfare.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India: The supreme audit institution of India, responsible for auditing the accounts of the Union and State governments.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India where funds were released to Animal Welfare Organizations.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *336
ANSWERED ON 12TH AUGUST 2025
ANIMAL WELFARE BOARD
*336. DR. BYREDDY SHABARI :
Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING:
मत्स्यपालन, पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the funds allocated, disbursed and utilised for the various schemes under Animal Welfare Board of
India during the last five years, year and State-wise;
(b) the details of amount of fund sanctioned and received by Animal Welfare Organisations and
Gaushalas along with the status of fund utilisation under these schemes during the last five years,
State-wise;
(c) the reasons of non-disbursement of funds to any State/UT;
(d) whether audits were conducted by the Government to assess the utilisation of funds; and
(e) if so, the key audit findings along with the action taken by the Government against non-compliant
organisations?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)
(a) to (e) Statement is laid on the table of The House.STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY OF LOKSABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *336 PART
(a) to (e) ON ANIMAL WELFARE BOARD
(a) & (b) The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), during the last five financial years, has implemented
the following schemes namely (1) Regular and Rescue Cattle Grant, (2) Shelter Houses for the care of
animals, (3) Ambulance Services for animals in distress, (4) Birth Control and Immunization of stray dogs,
and (5) Relief to animals during natural calamities.
Animal Husbandry and Control of Stray Animals Management is under mandate of the State Government.
The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has limited funds at its disposal, which are disbursed based
on the demands received from Animal Welfare Organisations (AWOs). Details of funds allocated,
disbursed, and utilised under these schemes by AWOs and Gaushalas, along with the status of fund
utilisation, are placed at Annexure-I.
(c) Funds are released based on demand under the schemes of the Animal Welfare Board of India to animal
welfare organizations and gaushalas whose proposals are found eligible in accordance with the criteria laid
down in the scheme guidelines. The release of funds is also after receipt of inspection report from the
concerned State Animal Husbandry Department, recommending financial support. Funds were not
disbursed in cases of non-compliance with prescribed norms, ineligibility of proposals, absence of a
favourable inspection report, or non-submission of required documents, including utilization certificates
for earlier grants.
(d) and (e) The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has made it mandatory for all organisations to
submit Utilization Certificates (UCs), certified by Chartered Accountants with a valid Unique Document
Identification Number (UDIN), along with audited accounts. These documents are verified before
releasing the next instalment of funds.
AWBI officials also conducted sample inspections of beneficiary organizations to verify fund utilization.
In addition, The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India conducted audits of AWBI annually
including the funds released to the AWOs and their utilization status. The Audit Report, along with the
Annual Report, was laid before the Parliament. No adverse comments have been made by the CAG in
these audits.
****Annexure I
Days Serial No. 16
Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 336
Dr. Byreddy Shabari
For Oral Answer on 12th August 2025
Details of Fund allocated, disbursed and utilized during last five years
(In Rs.)
Financial
2020-21 2021-22
Year
Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund utilized
Schemes
allocated disbursed utilized allocated disbursed
Regular
1,30,00,000 1,30,00,000 1,30,00,000 1,99,00,000 1,99,00,000 1,97,84,600
Grant
Animal Birth
4,03,981 2,12,265 2,12,265 - - -
Control
50,00,000 49,41,800 44,91,800 50,00,000 48,56,650 35,67,150
Ambulance
Natural
- 2,00,000 - - - -
Calamity
1,50,00,000 1,50,00,000 1,39,31,250 1,50,00,000 1,50,00,000 1,02,18,577
Shelter Grant
(In Rs.)
Financia
2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
l Year
Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund
Schemes
allocated disbursed utilized allocated disbursed utilized allocated disbursed utilized
Regular
4,45,00,000 4,45,00,000 4,35,94,000 4,50,00,000 4,08,20,675 3,49,58,075 61,02,355 39,98,350 39,23,350
Grant
Animal
Birth - - - - - - - - -
Control
Ambula
50,00,000 48,65,594 40,05,000 - - 36,00,000 - -
nce
Natural
Calamit 5,00,000 5,00,000 5,00,000 - - - - - -
y
Shelter
75,00,000 70,03,535 70,03,535 73,24,826 42,22,048 42,22,048 84,01,271 30,24,826 11,25,000
GrantState-wise details of fund released to the Animal Welfare Organizations (AWOs) from 2020-21 to 2024-2025
(Grant in Rs.)
Shelter House Ambulance Natural Regular Grant &
SL
State Grant Grant Calamity Rescue Cattle
No
Grant Grant
Total Total Total Total Tota Total Total Total
AWO Grant AW Grant l Grant AWO Grant
s Os AW s
Os
ANDHRA 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 478800
1
PRADESH
ANDAMAN & 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2
NICOBAR
ARUNACHAL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3
PRADESH
4 ASSAM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 BIHAR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 CHATTISGARH 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 188000
7 DELHI 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 651800
DADRA & NAGAR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8
HAVELI
9 GUJARAT 1 1125000 0 0 0 0 14 2809450
10 GOA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
HIMACHAL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11
PRADESH
12 HARYANA 11 10411095 10 4492150 1 500000 154 26947050
JAMMU & 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13
KASHMIR
14 JHARKHAND 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 12000
15 KARNATAKA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 KERALA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 MAHARASHTRA 1 1068750 0 0 0 0 18 2212625
MADHYA 11 10722926 3 1302394 0 0 91 10130750
18
PRADESH
19 MANIPUR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
20 MEGHALAYA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
21 MIZORAM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
22 NAGALAND 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 ODISHA 0 0 0 0 2 150000 0 0
24 PUNJAB 2 2230711 0 0 0 0 1 150000
25 PONDICHERRY 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
26 RAJASTHAN 12 10974196 11 4879000 1 50000 395 39831075
27 SIKKIM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
28 TAMIL NADU 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 75700
29 TELANGANA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
30 TRIPURA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
31 UTTARAKHAND 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1245000
32 UTTAR PRADESH 7 7717731 8 3540500 0 0 325 37154475
33 WEST BENGAL 0 0 0 450000 0 0 6 332300
45 44250409 32 14664044 4 700000 1022 122219025