Draws attention at the Winter Session in Nagpur
Pimpri-Chinchwad : A logical and just policy based on scientific criteria is essential for controlling stray dogs in Maharashtra. If Maharashtra is to achieve the “Zero by 30” goal, information about the availability of anti-rabies vaccines and rabies antisera must reach the general public, a firm demand made to the Maha-Yuti government. BJP leader MLA Mahesh Landge called for concrete steps to be taken in this regard.
During the ongoing winter session in Nagpur, MLA Landge drew the Maha-Yuti government’s attention to the issue of stray dogs troubling major cities in the state, including Pimpri-Chinchwad.
MLA Mahesh Landge stated that the problem of stray dogs is becoming serious not only in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad but also throughout Maharashtra and even in India. According to a survey, 20,000 citizens die annually in India due to rabies, meaning one person loses their life to rabies every half hour. In addition to rabies, other zoonotic diseases are also spreading due to stray dogs.
Therefore, a single, broad policy will not suffice for controlling stray dogs in urban, semi-urban, and rural areas. This policy should be framed under the guidance of experts in ecology, public health, sociology, etc. MLA Landge also called for the implementation of necessary research projects. He expects the state government to take concrete measures in this regard.
Response:
The World Health Organization (WHO) has committed to eliminating deaths due to dog-strain rabies globally by 2030. To achieve this, the “Zero by 30” goal must be successfully implemented in India. Currently, 20 million people in India are bitten by stray dogs every year, with 20,000 people dying from rabies infections. Rabies is 100% fatal. Until the number of stray dogs is brought under control, it will be impossible to curb the spread of dog-strain rabies in India. Therefore, there is a strong demand for the state government to make strategic decisions on this issue in the legislative assembly, with hopes for positive action.
- Mahesh Landge, MLA, Bhosari Constituency, BJP, Pimpri-Chinchwad
