Citizens’ health of prime concern: Commissioner
In a major decision, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Unemployed Veterinary Doctors’ Association (UVDA) to tackle the dog menace in the city.
The move has come in the backdrop of growing complaints by locals regarding dog bites.
“Under the MoU, the unemployed veterinary doctors will be roped in to implement Animal Birth Control (ABC) program in a scientific fashion and will meet all the norms laid down by the authorities,” In-charge Commissioner Dr Shafqat Khan said in a statement.
“The move, on one hand, will provide employment to unemployed youth of the State and, at the same time, will tackle the growing dog biting cases. Scores of dog bite cases are registered every month, especially winters as food grows scarce,” he said.
As per officials, around 400 unemployed veterinary doctors will be provided a chance to jointly help in bringing the dog population under acceptable levels.
“We intend to sterilize as many dogs as possible in the day. Initially, we intend to sterilize over 200 dogs a week in a scientific fashion. However, the number will gradually go up as the drive will gain pace,” the commissioner said.
He said the Unemployed Veterinary Doctors’ Association (UVDA) President Dr Ishfaq had agreed to work on the proposal.
The SMC is mulling an honorarium amount for the services provided by the Association. We will pay per dog sterilization,” said Dr Shafqat.
The SMC is also working on the lines of providing these unemployed veterinary doctors a chance to help attend to stray animals on the streets in case of emergencies. “It will be an initiative towards animal welfare,” he said.
“We want it to be a collective societal effort to counter the dog menace. I appeal to the city dwellers to come forth and help in disposable of solid waste by using dustbins. Public health remains the SMC’s top priority,” said Dr Shafqat.
