‘Rabies free T’puram’ project launched in city corp limits

Thiruvananthapuram: Minister for animal husbandry J Chinchurani launched the ‘rabies free Thiruvananthapuram’ project on Wednesday. The project is being implemented in the corporation limits with the assistance of National Dairy Development Board and its subsidiary Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL). The project is being implemented by compassion for animals’ welfare association (CAWA).
The IIL will fund the project with an initial share of Rs 1.3 crore and if required an additional funding would be provided, said K Anand Kumar, managing director, IIL. Minister Chinchurani said that the multi-pronged approach of the project would be extremely beneficial and that steps will be taken to extend the project across the state.
The project includes sterilisation, census of stray dogs and education and awareness. The city corporation will provide the necessary infrastructure for the project. Preliminary survey has begun in 30 wards in the city and figures from the survey will be tabulated and presented soon.
Mayor Arya Rajendran said that the last census of stray dogs was conducted in 2016 in the city. Since September 2022, 3,400 dogs were vaccinated and over 1,250 dogs were sterilized in the financial year 2022-23, said the mayor. The minister said that Kudumbasree had played a major role in the sterilization campaign, and owing to the court order their service had to be stopped which has been a setback.
Anand Kumar said the project aims at attaining its objective in around five to six years and presence of multiple stakeholders would guide the project in the right direction.