Abishkar Upadhaya
Leh, Oct 25: The Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh has accorded sanction to the constitution of a State/Local Animal Birth Control Monitoring Committee for “Animal Birth Control” programs in order to control the population of street animals, for eradication of rabies and for reducing man-animal conflict.
As per the order issued by General Administration Department UT Ladakh, the sanction has been granted to the recommendation of Housing and Urban Development Department which suggested for the Constitution of a UT/Local Level Animal Birth Control Monitoring Committee.
The Administrative Secretary HUDD shall be the chairperson of the State Animal Birth Control Monitoring Committee and Director, Health and Family Welfare Department; Director, Department of Panchayat Raj; Director, Urban Local Development Department; Director, Animal Husbandry Department; two representatives of Animal Board of India; two representatives of State Animal Board; Representative of Indian Veterinary Association of the State Chapter; Sarpanch Leh/Kargil, and President/Vice President Municipal Councils Leh/Kargil shall function as its Members whereas Officer In-Charge of the State Animal Welfare Board (Nodal Officer) will be the Member Secretary.
The order reads that the State Animal Birth Control Monitoring Committee would develop a comprehensive District wise plan (including but not limited to infrastructure, budget, etc. for dogs, population management in urban and rural areas throughout the state.)
The other terms of reference include “Enlisting Animal Birth Control Implementing Agencies posing of the requisite training and experience, recognized by the Animal welfare Board of India to carry out the Animal Birth control Programme as per District and State Plan.
Ensuring that the requisite infrastructure is set up, and other capital costs (including but not limited to fully furnished Animal Birth control facilities/campuses with ambulance and equipment), and all other expenses for successfully running an animal birth control program, including manpower costs, are made available to the Animal Birth Control Implementing Agencies from the local authorities, and reimbursed in a timely manner as required by rule 6 of the Animal Birth Control rules.”
It would also be responsible for overall monitoring of the Animal Birth Control Programme in the State by the Local Authorities.
“The State Monitoring Committee shall also carry out inspection on receipt of any complaints regarding the Animal Birth Control and Cruelty to Animal during the Birth Control Program and violation of Animal Birth Control Rules and take appropriate action,” the order read.
Meanwhile, the Executive Officer, Municipal Committee Leh / Municipal Committee Kargil shall be the Chairman (Ex. Officio) of the Local Animal Birth Control Monitoring Committee. Its members will include Executive Engineer, PHE Department Leh /Kargil; Veterinary Assistant surgeon, Animal Husbandry Department, Leh / Kargil; Livestock Development Officer, (LDO) Leh/Kargil; and General Secretary, District Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Leh / Kargil.
Local Animal Birth Control Monitoring Committee would issue instructions for catching, transportation, sheltering, sterilization, vaccination, treatment and release of sterilized vaccinated or treated dogs. It would also authorize veterinary doctors to decide on a case-to-case basis the need to put to sleep critically ill or fatally injured or rabid dogs in a painless method by using sodium pentathol.
Further, it would create public awareness and solicit co-operation and funding, provide guidelines to pet dog owners and commercial breeders from time to time and take such steps for the purpose of monitoring the dog bite cases and to ascertain the reason of bite, the area where it took place and whether it was from a stray or a pet dog. And, for the purpose detail may be collected from Human Hospital in a requisite format.
The Committee would arrive at an estimate of the number of dogs within its territorial limits by conducting a census in the manner advised by the AWBI and ensure development of the infrastructure required to execute the Animal Birth control program for the estimated number of dogs. In order to do this, detailed project reports shall have to be prepared and submitted dot the State Monitoring and Implementation Committee in coordination with state government
The infrastructure shall be designed in such a manner to carry out area-wise animal birth control in a phased manner of at least 70 percent dogs in the targeted area before a new area is taken up. The infrastructure shall include, but not be limited to preparation areas, Operation Theatres, post-op care, kennels, kitchen, store rooms for rations and medicines, parking area, residential rooms for veterinarians and attendants, quarantine wards, ambulance, etc.
The order reads, “The Committee shall meet once in every three months or as and when necessary. The above committees shall prepare a draft detailed action plan on all aspects of the issues and this will be approved by the competent authority within the next one month.”
