Navi Mumbai: Animal rights activists have pointed out the total absence of animal birth control (ABC) measures in rural and semi-urban areas of Maharashtra, and therefore demanded the implementation of sterilisation of dogs, cats in order to control their population as per the directives of court and Animal Welfare Board of India.
“While bigger cities like Navi Mumbai, Mumbai and Thane do carry out dog sterilisation as per the ABC Rules of 2023, just a few kilometres away in various talukas of Raigad and beyond, no ABC programme is done, which leads of human-animal conflicts and animal-animal issues due to overpopulation. The Gram Samitis are supposed to give funds to Gram Panchayats to do dog sterilisations,” said activist R Banerji.RTI activist Anarjit Chauhan commented: “I have inquired with various Raigad talukas like Roha, Uran, Karjat among others, but none have proper ABC programmes. The villagers use crude methods like poisoning of dogs, puppies and even illegal animal relocations to get rid of canine and feline numbers. But, this is animal cruelty and total lack of awareness about animal welfare in villages.”
Chauhan further added that no proper space or rooms are allocated by gram panchayats to carry out operations for dog sterilizations. “Even the mandatory cattle pounds and `gai-charan’ (grazing land for cattle) are missing in most gram panchayats as these lands have been either sold away or used for some other purpose. It is high time that animal welfare work is carried out on priority basis,” he said.
A Press Information Bureau release of March 2025 states: “The issue of stray dogs can be managed through effective ABC, specifically through the sterilization of male and female dogs. The Central Government has issued advisories for ABC programs by local bodies. Additionally, the Central Government has formulated the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, to guide municipalities in implementing sterilization programs.”
“Even the veterinary officers and animal husbandry officials in rural areas are not circulating the ABC rules of 2023, to create some awareness that it is mandatory to have ABC programmes in villages. Currently, there are not even any OPDs for large and small animals in gram panchayats. Applications have been sent to zilla parishad (ZP) of Raigad and also the district collector,” said an activist.