Representational Image | Mathrubhumi/KK Santosh
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala government has set up a meeting of state officials on Monday in Thiruvananthapuram to evaluate the stray dog situation. MB Rajesh, minister for local self-government department, senior government officials, experts, representatives of various organisations and others will participate and evaluate measures.
The outcome of the meeting will be notified to the Supreme Court. Earlier, the Supreme Court had expressed concern over the number of stray dog attack cases increasing in Kerala. It had also asked the state to submit a plan to deal with the situation. SC will pronounce an interim verdict on the matter on Sep 30.
The government will also examine whether the LSGs can be made a party in the case.
Kerala has around 3 lakh stray dogs, as per a state estimate. To tackle population growth, ABC(animal birth control) programmes will be strengthened in 152 block panchayat. Sterilisation of stray dogs was slowed down earlier. In 2017, Kudumbshree was granted permission to conduct sterilisation. However, this was suspended after Kudumbasree failed to receive the necessary permission from the Animal Welfare Board.
The government will use the Directorate of Animal Husbandry to bolster sterilisation efforts due to the lack of qualified organisations in the state. Minister J Chinjurani informed that 5 lakh doses of vaccine have been handed over to each district to vaccinate dogs. Meanwhile, measures will be taken to stop people from owning dogs without a licence.
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