Kudumbashree to roll out ABC scheme in Ponnani

Malappuram: Following protests over frequent incidents of stray dog attacks across the district, Kudumbashree Mission is planning to launch its street dog sterilization programme this month.

The launch of the programme, announced months ago, got delayed due to technical issues including lack of facilities for sterilization of street dogs.

The three-day training programme regarding the animal birth control ( ABC ) programme for a 25-member group of Kudumbashree workers will begin on Tuesday.

Block coordinator of Kudumbashree Mission Sameer M P said that the programme would be launched in Malappuram soon after the training programme.

“The programme would be launched first in Ponnani as Ponnani municipality has earmarked a fund for the implementation of the project. Among the 25-member team of Kudumbashree workers, 20 are from Ponnani and five are from Kondotty,” said Sameer, who is in-charge of the implementation of the project.

On Wednesday, a five-year-old boy was seriously injured in the attack of a stray dog in front of his school at Vandur. In another incident on same day, four people, including a two-year-old child, injured in stray dog attack in Ponnani.

A street dog sterilization process under the ABC programme was started in Malappuram in January 2017 by the district panchayat in association with animal husbandry department.

The sterilization and vaccination process were carried out with the support of an Ahmedabad-based NGO, Humane Society International/India. But, the programme was concluded on May 1, after sterilizing and vaccinating around 26,00 stray dogs in various parts of the district.

As the programme concluded, Kudumbashree Mission in the district had decided to take over the charge of the street dog sterilization project.

Sameer said that the training would be conducted with the support of a Bengaluru-based NGO and Kudumbashree’s team would be trained to set up makeshift facilities to carry out sterilization surgeries on dogs.

“The team in respective areas will set up the facilities for surgery in rented homes and buildings in respective areas. From the second phase, more teams are expected to join programme,” he said.

The ABC programme is aimed at reducing stray dog population density, decrease mating, maternal/pack aggression in stray dogs. The programme involves capture, neutering, and release of stray dogs based on a standard operating procedure for ABC programmess outlined by the Animal Welfare Board of India.