Jaipur: Following the Supreme Court’s directive on the management of stray dogs, the Rajasthan government has emerged as the first state in India to enforce systematic and comprehensive measures in line with the new guidelines under the Stray Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules 2023.
Mandatory Compliance for Municipal Bodies
The Department of Autonomous Governance has issued strict orders mandating all municipal corporations, councils, and municipalities across Rajasthan to fully comply with the ABC Rules 2023. Urban local bodies are now required to establish designated feeding points for stray dogs in every ward and locality. These feeding points will ensure dogs receive food and water, including in cases involving rabies, maintaining both animal welfare and public health safety.
Coordination with Resident Welfare Associations and NGOs
Municipal authorities must coordinate with resident welfare associations and animal welfare organisations to effectively implement the new rules. This cooperation aims to create a community-driven approach for humane stray dog management.
Sterilisation, Vaccination, and Monitoring Protocols
In every city, centres for sterilisation, rabies vaccination, and deworming will be set up. Stray dogs will be caught by trained teams using humane methods, sterilised, vaccinated, tagged, and then released back to their original localities. The government has explicitly prohibited sterilisation of dogs below six months of age to ensure animal health and welfare.
To enhance transparency, CCTV cameras will be installed in operating theatres and ABC centres. This move ensures accountability in the treatment process and adherence to the humane standards mandated by law.
Monitoring and Reporting Mechanisms
The government has directed the formation of monitoring committees in every city, consisting of NGO members and animal welfare workers. These committees will regularly review the progress, ensuring compliance and humane treatment of stray dogs.
Municipal bodies must also maintain detailed records of sterilisation, vaccination, deaths, and feeding activities. Compliance reports are to be submitted to the state government within 30 days of implementation.
Financial Provisions
According to the Animal Welfare Board of India, the cost for catching each dog is fixed at Rs 200, while sterilisation, food, and post-operative care are pegged at Rs 1,450 per animal.
Supreme Court’s Balanced Directive
Last week, the Supreme Court highlighted the challenges of indiscriminate removal of stray dogs, cautioning that a “blanket direction to pick up all the strays and place them in dog shelters/pounds without evaluating the existing infrastructure may lead to a catch-22 situation.” The court reiterated that sterilised, vaccinated, and dewormed dogs should be released back to their original localities as per the ABC Rules 2023.
Statement from Rajasthan Official
Mr Ravi Jain, 2004 batch IAS officer and Secretary of the Local Self Government Department, said, “Rajasthan is the first state in the country to issue such comprehensive orders balancing public safety and animal welfare after the Supreme Court’s decision.”
