MM : Dog days ahead for city's NGOs : Sept 21, 2007

Dog days ahead for city's NGOs
After dismal results of its dog sterilisation programme, BMC gives NGOs
hired for the purpose 6 months to meet targets or forgo their contracts;
forms committee to monitor implementation
SUDHIR SURYAWANSHI

    Meet sterilisation targets or forgo contract, the Brihanmumbai Municipal
Corporation (BMC) has warned NGOs that have been hired to sterilise stray
dogs.

    Civic officials said NGOs hired earlier for the work were not given any
targets and the record of sterilisations over the last three years has been
very poor.

    On Wednesday, Municipal Commissioner Jairaj Phatak called a meeting of
the NGOs and gave them a six-month deadline to shape up.

    The new guidelines for sterilisation has given NGOS a target of at least
50 animals a day.

    "A performance report of each NGO will be prepared and the decision to
renew or cancel contracts will be taken on the basis of it," said Jairaj
Thanekar, BMC's chief executive health officer.

    The BMC has also set up a monitoring committee headed by Dr J T Ambhe,
deputy executive health officer. The committee will comprise members of the
Animal Welfare Board, veterinarians and civic officers.

    The civic body is also planning to hire more NGOs and has set a target
of 3 lakh dogs to be sterilised. "Thirteen NGOs had approached us for the
sterilisation programme of which we appointed three - V Team (Thane), Royal
Veterinary and Animal Welfare Society - for the moment," Dr Ambhe said.

    The civic administration has also planned to allot 10,000 sq ft of land
for sterilisation centre. Each NGO will be paid Rs 1,200 per dog sterilised.

    Dr V T Chariyal of V Team (Thane), said, "It is good that the BMC has
decided to sterilise strays on a large scale. We have been in this field for
the last three years and almost 40 per cent sterilisation has been done in
Thane. Soon, Thane city will be free of stray dogs. Similar efforts will be
made in Mumbai too."

    Congress corporator Vinod Shekar said that every now and then one hears
of a new proposal to tackle the stray dog problem in the city.

    However, most of them appear very promising on paper but the results,
unfortunately, have been gloomy so far. "I hope BMC's new guidelines will
improve matters," he added.

SOME STRAY FACTS

There are over 5 lakh stray dogs in the city.

In 2004, approximately 51,311 dog bite cases were reported while 15 people
succumbed to rabies. In that year, 7,852 dogs were sterilised.

In 2005, there were 43,980 dog bite cases, 29 deaths and 9,204
sterilisations.

    Till July 2006, the city has recorded 28,383 dog bite cases, seven
deaths and 6,263 sterilisations.

    At present, four NGOs are under contract for the sterilisation work.

Publication:Mumbai Mirror; Date:Sep 21, 2007; Section:City; Page Number:2

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