Stray dog vaccination: Centre relaxes stringent rule

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The animal birth control (ABC) project, which was stalled in the state, could be resumed following relaxation in central policies. The central government had stipulated that stray dogs should be sterilized by a veterinary surgeon who has performed sterilization surgery on more than 2,000 dogs. The project came back to life after the concession was granted.

Animal Welfare Board of India has removed the impractical clause in the revised rules that brought the ABC project to a standstill. Then in July, Minister Chinchu Rani wrote to the Union Minister of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development and the Chairman of the Animal Welfare Board.

Most of the ABC centers in the state are functioning under government control. The exemption was granted to the ABC centers which get technical assistance from the Department of Animal Husbandry under the Local Self-Government Department of Kerala. At the same time, no decision has been taken on the letter issued by the state requesting to relax the rules that pre-surgery and post-surgery wards should be air conditioned.