In a bid to create a comprehensive database of dog bite incidents across Goa, the State government has decided that all such cases must now be reported to the Taluka Nodal Officers of the Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (DAHVS). Private doctors will also be direct ed, through the Indian Medical Association (IMA), to share infor mation on dog bite cases with the designated nodal officers. The decision was taken at a re view meeting chaired by Secretary (Animal Husbandry and Veteri nary Services) Prasanna Acharya. Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Dr Nitin Naik, along with assistant directors and veterinary officers from across the State, attended the meeting. As part of ongoing compliance with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, the govern ment will file an affidavit before the Supreme Court within the next eight days regarding the constitution of local Animal Birth Control Monitoring Committees. Currently, sterilisation of domesticated dogs is handled by the Directorate, while the sterilisation of both domesti cated and community dogs is carried out by local bodies in coordination with NGOs. However, the absence of consoli dated data from NGOs has hindered effective monitoring. To streamline reporting, it was decided that sterilisation data from local bodies will be collected by Taluka Level Nodal Officers and compiled centrally by the statistical branch of the Directorate. The Taluka Nodal Officers will also coordinate with nodal officers appointed by municipal councils, panchayats, and institutions within their jurisdiction, ensuring a seamless flow of information from the local to the State level. The Directorate has been struggling to maintain accu rate records of dog bite cases, relying largely on informa tion sought from the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) or media reports. To address this gap, the DAHVS will now obtain data on dog bites reported over the past three years directly from DHS. Letters will also be issued to DHS and the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim, instructing them to report all dog bite incidents to the respective Taluka Level Nodal Officers. To ensure full compliance with the ABC Rules, the meet ing resolved to urge all municipal councils and village panchayats to constitute Monitoring Committees. The DAHVS Director, who serves as Member Secretary of the State Monitoring Committee, will write to the Directors of Municipal Administration and Panchayats to expedite the formation of these committees and ensure timely submis sion of data to the State-level body. The Department will also move a proposal to the govern ment seeking an increase in staff strength—24 veterinary officers and 24 veterinary assistants—to effectively imple ment ABC activities. It is currently short of two officers and two assistants, in addition to shortages across all 12 talu kas. Another proposal will request a fully equipped ambu lance with essential medicines for each taluka to respond to emergency cases
Goa Govt Makes Dog Bite Reporting Mandatory; Taluka Nodal Officers to Maintain Statewide Database
