KANNUR/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite repeated incidents of stray dogs biting humans in the state, there has been a massive failure to control and sterilize them. The Animal Birth Control (ABC) scheme launched in the state to reduce the stray dog nuisance has failed. The 11-year-old differently-abled boy Nihal Naushad, who died in the attack of a stray dog in Kannur's Muzhapilangad, is the latest victim. Nihal's body was buried in the Edakkad Manappuram Juma Masjid graveyard. Meanwhile, Bindu (44) wife of Thrissur Punnayurkulam resident Suresh and their daughter Sreekutty (21) were attacked by a stray dog yesterday.
In 2001, the Central Government passed the Animal Birth Control Act, which allows dogs to be captured, sterilized, vaccinated and released. Not being able to get people to catch the dogs was a setback to the project. In Kerala, which has more than 3 lakh stray dogs, only 10,000 have been sterilized till last March. It was announced that 82 sterilization centers would be opened. At present, there are only 18.
Thiruvananthapuram has another center run by the Street Dog Watch Association, a voluntary organization. There are no sterilization centers in five districts. Among Corporations, centers are available in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur and Kozhikode, but not in Kannur Corporation. There are no sterilization centers in Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Alappuzha, Malappuram and Kasaragod districts. The announcement that shelter homes will be established under the leadership of local bodies to accommodate stray dogs has also reached nowhere.
Out of more than 300,000 stray dogs, only 10% have been vaccinated against rabies. A total of 32,061 dogs were vaccinated during the 10-month intensive vaccination campaign.
Rs 1500 per dog
The surgery is estimated at Rs 1500 per dog, if blocks are directly sterilizing them. 600 for medicine, 200 for travel, 400 for food, and 300 for dog catchers. It is alleged that the local bodies are not ready to allocate funds for this purpose.
No funds; Justice Siri Jagan Committee ceased functioning
It has been six months since the work of the Justice Siri Jagan Committee to determine compensation for victims of stray dog attacks has stalled. The work went into crisis when the secretary resigned on December 31. The government is not providing enough operational funds after covid and about 6000 complaints have been received. Compensation was determined in less than a thousand complaints. The amount is to be paid by the local bodies
2,89,986 dogs
'There was considerable local opposition to the establishment of ABC centers in many places. While the stray dog problem has been significantly reduced as a result of the intensive efforts that began last September, some local authorities have remained indifferent.'
- MB Rajesh,
LSG Minister
Not only is there no shelter home setup for stray dogs, but the ABC scheme is also not implemented here.
-T Sajita
President of Muzhapilangad Panchayat
Permission is required to kill aggressive stray dogs. The Supreme Court will be approached for this. People's lives should be given value.
- PP Divya,
District Panchayat President, Kannur