Delhi govt. to upgrade animal birth control centres: Kapil Mishra

Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra on Friday said animal birth control (ABC) centres in the city will be upgraded with microchipping, re-vaccination and feeding zones facilities. There are currently 20 ABC centres in the Capital.

Mr. Mishra met former Union Minister and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi and representatives of various animal rights NGOs at the Delhi Secretariat. He discussed the increasing cases of dog bites, rabies, shortcomings in the sterilisation system and structural issues related to the care of stray animals.

A source said during the meeting, Ms. Gandhi drew the Minister’s attention to the ABC centres lacking basic facilities, trained staff and cleanliness. The former Minister suggested that all stray dogs should be re-vaccinated, microchipping should be made mandatory for their identification, and special feeding zones should be set up in the city to prevent human-animal conflicts.

“Improving infrastructure, ethical work, and scientific thinking can give direction to the ABC centres. Stray animals are a part of our city, and it is our social and moral responsibility to take care of them,” Mr. Mishra said.

Separate surgery rooms, clean recovery areas, trained veterinary staff and safe animal transportation will be ensured in every centre, he added.

The NGOs suggested that the grant per stray dog should be increased to improve sterilisation, care and vaccination.

On July 30, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta chaired a meeting with officials to discuss the stray dog menace and sought suggestions.

Ms. Gupta also directed Ministers Kapil Mishra and Ashish Sood to engage with animal rights activists, social organisations and experts to come up with a policy on stray animals.

The meeting came days after the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of a media report about a dog bite leading to rabies in the Capital.