Unrecognised by animal welfare board, NGO set for dog sterilisation in district

Aparna Banerji

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Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 16

While the revival of the Animal Birth Control Project in the district — under which the sterlisation of dogs shall be started yet again after a decade — has been a welcome development in Jalandhar for those sick of the stray dog menace, it seems even before its start, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has run into rough weather over the issue.

While the Stray Dog and Human Welfare Society (SDHWS), chaired by Deputy Mayor Arvinder Kaur Oberoi and her husband Kuldip Oberoi, is the nodal Animal Welfare Organisation (AWO) for carrying out sterilisations in the district, in choosing the said NGO, which has no prior experience in carrying out any kind of sterilisations (or which hasn’t been a part of any project to curb stray dog menace), the MC has failed to meet the Animal Birth Control Rules 2001.

NGO is monitoring committee member

The NGO, is part of the monitoring committee formed by Commissioner, Municipal Corporation on July 1, 2016, for the Management of Dogs Control Programme as per rule 4 of the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001.

The members of the committee include Commissioner Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar, GS Khaira, Superintending Engineer (O&M) Lakhwinder Singh, Assistant Health Officer, (In-charge Stray animals) Shri Kishan, Veterinary officer Dr. Gopal Sharma, Dr. SS Bhatti (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and two members of the Animal Welfare Organisation – Kuldeep Oberoi (President, Stray Dog and Human Welfare Society) Dr GS Bedi veterinary doctor.

While the SDHWS is the nodal NGO which has been tasked with key responsibilities like the construction, budgeting, hiring of staff, procurement of equipment and vehicles for the upcoming dog sterilisation project and to run it effectively – given the antecedents of the NGO – which the Commissioner confirmed is registered – the plan appears dodgy, at best.

Incidentally not a single member of the society is a veterinary doctor (surgeon) either (the only doctor member is an Ayurvedic (human) doctor associated with the MC) , nor does it have any experience in carrying out sterilisations surgeries ever since it was registered in 2014.

Officialspeak

Commissioner Municipal Corporation, Dr GS Khera said, “As far as we know, a qualified veterinarian should be a member of the team. We aren’t aware that the recognition from the AWBI is also a prerequisite for the NGO. The ABC or dog sterilisation project has been hanging fire for the past many years in the district. The said society is the only one which has volunteered to carry out the project effectively. The NGO shall hire competent veterinary doctors for the job and we are expecting the project shall start within this month. If there was any competent authority in the district willing to run it, it was welcome to approach us.”

Interestingly, any dog sterlisations having been carried out in the district were done for the Jalandhar Cantt area with the help of government and private veterinary experts or the People for Animals facility at the police lines in Jalandhar.

Kuldip Oberoi, president, SDHWS, while responding on his organisation lacking any experience in the sterilisations of animals, said, “I have been instrumental in raising my voice against stray dog menace. The AWBI recognition is needed only for NGOs which seek grants. We have three qualified veterinary doctors who shall be on the job. We shall sign an agreement with the veterinary doctors that they shall be paid on a per sterilisation basis which will cost from Rs 2,500 to 3,000. So we have experienced hands collaborating on the venture and are competent to do it. The plan is to involve three doctors at the beginning of the project – one from Jalandhar, another from Amritsar and another from Ludhiana.”

Formerly a councillor, for the past 20 years, Oberoi has been one of the most vocal councillors on the issue of the stray dog menace. He, however, conceded that his NGO wasn’t involved in any prior sterilisation or stray dog project. “We have bought a Tata 407 vehicle for the project as well on which proper wire meshes have been mounted to keep the dogs in. Soon staff for the project shall also be hired. The building shall be complete by the end of this month and within the month work is expected to start,” Oberoi added.

Speaking on the number of staff which shall be carrying out the job, he said, “Four dog catchers have already been hired and provided proper uniforms bearing their names and the name of the society. Additionally, we plan to hire staff – one pharmacist, two caretakers for the animals, one cook for the dogs, one chowkidar, including other staff, soon.”

Dr Gopal Sharma, veterinary officer at the Nangal Shama Civil Veterinary Hospital, said, “We have indications that the project shall start very soon. Eventually, anywhere near 250 to 300 dogs shall be sterilised at the facility.”

Fact File

While the Stray Dog and Human Welfare Society, chaired by Deputy Mayor Arvinder Kaur Oberoi and her husband Kuldip Oberoi, is the nodal Animal Welfare Organisation for carrying out sterilisations in the district, in choosing the said NGO, which has no prior experience in carrying out any kind of sterilisation (or which hasn’t been a part of any project to curb stray dog menace), the MC has thrown rules to the wind

THE PROJECT

An MC land has been chosen for the project behind the Nangal Shama veterinary hospital. Four kennels (to keep dogs during pre and post operative process of sterilisation) have been constructed (24 will be built) and a building with OTs and housing other infrastructure for the project – including kitchen and other rooms etc. – is also under construction and is expected to be completed by the end of this month. Under the project, there is a plan to carry out at least a 100 sterlisations a month at the start of the project and eventually move to as many as 300 to 500 surgeries per month.

AWBI PREREQUISITE

Sources at a Jalandhar NGO registered with AWBI from Jalandhar said at least three years’ of work experience in the field of animal welfare was required to apply for the field with the AWBI. Due evidence for work is to be produced with a number of years, number of animals being kept among other details to establish competence. The approval comes from the AWBI head office at Chennai with a cheque of certain amount, that the NGO has been recognised.