Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Kerala Local Self-Government Minister K M Shaji on Thursday said the state government will soon roll out a protocol to deal with the stray dog problem, with clear guidelines on euthanasia, adoption, dog shelters and the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme.
He said two more government orders have to be issued before the protocol is finalised, and added that the Kerala High Court’s directions had helped the government define the role of local bodies in tackling the issue.
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Speaking to reporters, Shaji said, “Once the orders for these two policies are issued, we will declare it. It will come without much delay.”
He said the government would spell out the details of the measures clearly. “We will provide the exact details of these schemes very clearly. What is euthanasia, what is adoption, what is the responsibility of the panchayats, how should dog shelters be set up, and what is the Animal Birth Control (ABC) project – all these will be clearly explained,” he said.
Shaji said the government had prepared a project to address the stray dog problem within a year, if panchayats, municipalities, corporations and the government made a sincere effort.
Asked about reports of differences between two IAS officers in the Local Self-Government Department over sanitation projects, Shaji denied any dispute. “There is no fight inside our office. No kind of fight at all. But there is competition – good, healthy competition,” he said.
He said several agencies were involved in sanitation and waste management, with officers heading each of them, and that it was natural for their projects to be included when a larger government initiative was announced. According to him, the issue was not a lack of cooperation but the inclusion of too many components in the project.
Shaji said the sanitation initiative should be seen not only as a challenge for government officers but also for the people of Kerala. Overall, he said the government was moving towards a clear stray dog management protocol while also stressing wider public participation in sanitation efforts.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
