In an interesting move, Madhya Pradesh government has appointed a committed of 15 members including seven senior IAS officers to control the stray dog menace across the state.
Neeraj Mandloi, a 1993 batch IAS officer, who is serving as principal secretary UDH is heading the panel. Other IAS officers include Gulshan Bamra (1997-batch), principal secretary animal husbandry, Tarun Pithode (2009-batch), commissioner health department, Manoj Pushp (2011-batch), rural development and panchayatiraj commissioner, Bharat Yadav (2008-batch) UDH commissioner, Shivam Verma (2013-batch), Indore Nagar Nigam commissioner and KVS Choudhary (2011-batch), Bhopal Nagar Nigam commissioner.
Other members of the committee include representatives from animal husbandry, animal welfare societies and non government organisation. The panel will take actions to rein in the dog attacks and find a long term solution to this problem.
The incidences of dog bites and menace of stray dogs are on rise in the state. So much so that dogs are not only biting people n residential colonies but also causing troubles in government offices also.
Over 21,000 dog bite cases have been reported in Madhya Pradesh annually. In the past five years, stray dogs have killed five people including those who died from rabies.
In Bhopal alone, hospitals receive an average of 55 cases of dog bites daily. Dog bites have created havoc in the state. In some areas people fear going for walk in mornings and evenings. Dogs often attack old people, children and women.
“We have taken this decision after thoroughly examining our data. Our priority is to save lives, which is why we have formed this committee of officers,” Animal husbandry minister Lakhan Patel said.
Hospital data reveals alarming figures. In 2022, over 8,124 dog bite incidents were recorded and in 2023, the number almost doubled to 16,387. In the first five months of 2024, as many as 7,728 cases of dog bites have been reported.
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