Code of conduct topples govt's scheme
Health department spend around Rs 6 crore to treat dog bite victims
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The upcoming local poll has come as a setback to the Kerala government plan to open 50 animal birth control centres in veterinary hospitals across the state to address the stray dog menace.
The government had taken a slew of decisions recently to counter the growing stray dog attacks being reported in the state.
The stand taken by the Kerala government to cull dangerous and rabid dogs had unforeseen repercussions across the globe and all its decisions remain on paper.
One of the major announcements was incentives for citizens who bring stray dogs for sterilisation.
A sum of Rs 250 would be given as incentive for each stray dog and pet dog brought for sterilisation. However, nothing has happened.
A top official of Local Self-Government Department (LSGD) said that many of the local bodies were yet to come up with the proposal.
"Election is round the corner and the local bodies are not very keen as new councils would take over soon. So the project is technically on hold," said the official.
A top official of Animal Husbandry Department told DC that procedures were on to recruit 12 veterinary surgeons at various centres in the state to carry out sterilisation drive.
"We are only providing technical support and it's the responsibility of the local self- government department to provide basic infrastructure. Training would be over soon and once the centres are ready, we would be able to start sterilisation," said the official.
The Animal Welfare Board of India had asked the Animal Husbandry Department to expedite the ABC programme to avoid unnecessary culling of dogs.
"We have brought in expert hands to provide training for the veterinarians," said the official.
Stray dog threat looms large
The state capital is in election mode, but the city has turned unsafe with multiplying dog population. It is estimated that there are around 30,000 stray dogs in the city, of which the civic authorities could sterilise only 3,000 in the past five years.
A toddler at Malayinkeezhu was attacked by a stray dog on Thursday while several kids have come under brutal canine attack.
Humane Society International (HSI) - the NGO roped in by the civic body - has backed out from the contract after it refused to pay for the survey held as part of the initiative.
Despite repeated complaints of stray dog attacks, the civic authorities have been a total failure in finding a solution.
Mass sterilisation drives were launched many a time in the past five years but none of them could resolve the crisis.
A top official of the civic body said that a proposal would be submitted to the government to recruit a veterinary surgeon to carry out mass sterilisation.
“A letter would be submitted on Monday and once we get the clearance, we would be able to re-launch sterilisation drive. Currently, we can attend only emergencies. We get calls from residents and we are managing with the limited resources we have," said the official. He said that the dog survey report placed by HSI was unrealistic.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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