Mon Jun 30 09:21:37 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the text, written from an Indian perspective, for “Karnataka Today”:

**Karnataka Today: Kerala Government Faces Scrutiny Over Rabies Elimination Plan**

**Alappuzha, June 30, 2025:** The Union Government has raised concerns over the Kerala government’s delay in finalizing and submitting its State Action Plan for Rabies Elimination (SAPRE). Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, in a letter addressed to MP Kodikunnil Suresh, highlighted the need for urgent action.

The National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination (NAPRE) mandates that all states prepare and implement their own SAPREs to qualify for central government support. Minister Singh emphasized that Kerala’s lack of a finalized plan is hindering effective coordination and access to crucial funding.

While the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has extended support to Kerala by recognizing Animal Birth Control (ABC) centers and approving ABC programs through mobile units and government veterinary hospitals, the effectiveness of these measures is hampered by the absence of a comprehensive state plan.

Kerala’s Health Department, acting as the nodal agency, stated that the SAPRE is nearing completion and involves collaboration between the Health, Animal Husbandry, and Local Self Government departments. Consolidation of inputs from all three departments is cited as the reason for the delay.

MP Kodikunnil Suresh has strongly criticized the Kerala government, calling the delay a “failure of governance.” He asserted that the SAPRE submission is mandatory and that the ABC Rules, 2023, remain largely unimplemented due to its absence. The delay, according to Suresh, persists despite repeated reminders from the Union Ministry and the AWBI.

The situation underscores the ongoing challenge of managing stray animal populations and preventing rabies in Kerala, highlighting the importance of coordinated action between the state and central governments.

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