The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying secured a grant under the G20 Pandemic Fund Project titled “Animal Health Security Strengthening in India for Pandemic Preparedness and Response”, launched on 25th October 2024.

The initiative aims to reduce the risk of pathogens emerging from both domesticated and wild animals and spilling over into human populations, thereby protecting public health, nutritional security, and the livelihoods of vulnerable communities. Key objectives of the project include:

• Augmenting laboratory systems
• Enhancing surveillance and early warning systems
• Strengthening capacity, competency, and human resource development
• Advancing data systems, analytics, risk analysis, and risk communication
• Addressing institutional capacity gaps at national and regional levels

Key activities undertaken under the project to reduce the risk of zoonotic diseases include:

• Gap assessments of laboratories to support accreditation
• Establishment of national laboratory networks for transboundary and zoonotic disease surveillance, including genomic surveillance and early warning systems
• Development of digital tools for laboratory self-assessment, biosecurity, and integrated information management
• Capacity building for field epidemiologists and animal health professionals
• Development of risk communication strategies and community awareness initiatives for early reporting and behaviour change

• Training and engagement of community-level animal health workers for early detection, response, and outreach in rural and remote areas

The project received a grant of USD 25 million from the G20 Pandemic Fund, which has been allocated among the three Implementing Entities (IEs) as follows: USD 12.00 million to the Asian Development Bank, USD 8.714 million to the Food and Agriculture Organization, and USD 4.285 million to the World Bank. As of 30th June 2025, USD 0.837 million has been utilised from the USD 5.442 million released to the IEs. 

This information was given by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 5th August, 2025.

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(Release ID: 2152461)