Shillong, Sept 01: The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills District, on Tuesday launched the Action Plan for the Elimination of Dog-Mediated Rabies, a pilot project for the Laban area, at the office of the Deputy Commissioner in Shillong.
The initiative aims to strengthen rabies prevention and control through the enumeration, vaccination and sterilisation of stray dogs, along with post-sterilisation care and measures to promote responsible pet ownership and regulate feeding practices.
Addressing the gathering, Additional Deputy Commissioner F.B. Basan highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts among the district administration, community leaders and residents for the successful implementation of the pilot project.
He said the district administration has set a target to eliminate dog-mediated rabies by 2030. As part of this objective, the pilot project has been launched in the Laban area, and he urged the Rangbah Shnong and community leaders to work together to ensure its successful implementation in their respective localities.
East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal said that the district records an alarming number of dog-bite cases every year, while many cases also go unreported. He added that fear and concern regarding stray dogs among members of the public is a recurring issue that needs to be addressed.
Baranwal said the district administration had held consultations with NGOs and Rangbah Shnong, whom he described as the backbone of the programme.
He said the project has been launched as a pilot initiative and will subsequently be expanded to other parts of Shillong before being extended to rural areas.
The Deputy Commissioner further said that the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders have been clearly defined, including those of the district administration, the Health Department, the Police Department, other concerned departments and community organisations.
He stressed the importance of responsible pet ownership and said pet owners must take greater responsibility to ensure that their pets do not cause inconvenience or pose a risk to residents, particularly pedestrians and visitors to households where dogs are kept.
The Deputy Commissioner said pet owners would be required to mandatorily register their pets with the respective Rangbah Shnong and maintain proper vaccination records.
The district administration will coordinate with community leaders to schedule vaccination drives for pet dogs. Pet owners will be required to retain valid vaccination certificates, while community leaders will assist in monitoring and maintaining vaccination records.
As part of the pilot project, the administration has commenced the vaccination of stray dogs in the Laban area. The vaccination programme will be completed within a stipulated time frame, following which sterilisation will be undertaken to control the growth of the stray-dog population.
The Community leaders and traditional institutions will identify suitable locations where stray dogs can be fed, while feeding outside the designated zones will be prohibited under the proposed measures.
The initiative is aimed at preventing the spread of rabies, controlling the stray-dog population and ensuring greater responsibility and coordination among pet owners, community leaders, government departments and residents.
