Rajasthan Budget's Rs 40 Crore Dog Shelter Allocation Sparks Debate
The state budget presented on Wednesday in Rajasthan has allocated Rs 40 crore for the construction of dog shelters, a move that has left animal activists and animal lovers deeply dissatisfied. Critics argue that the focus should prioritize animal birth control (ABC) programs, in alignment with Supreme Court directions, rather than solely investing in shelter infrastructure.
Activists Emphasize Need for Population Control
Animal activist Santana Khurana highlighted that the Supreme Court has clearly stated dogs should only be placed in shelters after undergoing ABC procedures. "To address public safety concerns, it is essential to control the population of stray dogs. If ABC is ignored, the number of dogs on the streets will continue to rise, making the problem more serious. The government should allocate funds for animal welfare and ABC programmes," she said.
Khurana pointed out that the capacity of ABC centers in Jaipur and other parts of Rajasthan is severely limited. "In a meeting with the Chief Secretary, all stakeholders, including municipal contractors, JMC's Commissioner, the state animal welfare board, and district collectors, stressed the need to increase ABC capacity. If funds are allocated, 70% should go towards ABC programmes and only 30% towards shelters. ABC centres require trained veterinarians and post-operative care facilities, while shelters alone cannot address the issue," she added.
Concerns Over Public Health and Animal Welfare
Another animal activist, Mariam Abuhaideri, expressed serious concerns over the budget approach. "This budget reflects a worrying misunderstanding of animal and public health policy. Allocating a large amount only for shelters, while excluding funding for animal birth control, anti-rabies vaccination, and public awareness, ignores decades of scientific evidence and the WHO's One Health framework. Shelters without parallel investment in sterilisation and vaccination will lead to overcrowding, disease spread, and invisible suffering. Public safety and animal welfare are inseparable," she said.
When contacted for clarification on how the budget would be allocated, DLB Secretary Ravi Jain was unavailable for comment, leaving questions unanswered about the implementation and distribution of funds.
