Odisha Social Worker Moves NHRC Against Cruelty to Street Dogs in Berhampur

Berhampur: A day after a child or two women sustained injuries after the scooty they were traveling in rammed into a stationary car here while trying to avoid a pack of stray dogs, a human rights activist on Tuesday filed a requisition before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) appealing to direct the Silk City civic authorities to curb the dog menace.

“Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) is liable for ensuring the safety of the residents. Therefore, any deviation from it amounts to a violation of human rights—the civic body.

However, failed to execute animal birth control (ABC) program for which dog menace increased and violated the rights,” said human rights activist Rabindra Mishra, who filed the petition.

“The incident has exposed the failure of the civic body to curb dog menace,” he said and appealed to the NHRC to direct the authorities concerned to ensure the safety of people.

The BeMC has constructed at least 18 kennels on the premises of the veterinary office here to vaccinate and sterilize the dogs. But the ABC program was stopped since no agency came forward to take up the task, even though an average of 20 to 30 animal bite cases are reported daily in MKCG Medical College and Hospital. Of these, the maximum is dog bite cases, said a doctor in the community medicine department.

“We are facing a stray dog menace in the city,” said Manoj Sahu of the Gandhi Nagar area where the incident happened on Monday. “We also wanted to engage a veterinary surgeon on a contractual basis, but no one was available,” said a BeMC officer.