Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha highlighted the importance of training and public awareness in preventing accidents and diseases caused by stray animals, especially rabies. He stressed the need to educate students, teachers, and the public in both government and private institutions about rabies, animal behavior, and safety measures. Saha also mentioned the significance of public education on stray animal behavior and the promotion of preventive measures to reduce accidents and disease transmission.
The Chief Minister mentioned that the state government is taking steps to rescue stray animals and provide them with suitable shelters. Various initiatives have been put in place to safeguard these animals and minimize accidents involving them. Vaccinating domestic animals was identified as a crucial strategy to curb the spread of animal-borne diseases.
In a meeting, Saha reviewed the progress of constructing shelter houses for stray animals in 20 Nagar Panchayat areas. The discussion also covered the establishment of Animal Birth Control Centres in certain municipal areas and proposed centers in six additional districts. The Chief Minister instructed officials to ensure adequate public awareness campaigns precede any stray animal management programs.
Saha also requested comprehensive data on the number of stray animals in the state, the functioning of Animal Birth Control Centres, and progress in managing stray animals, including training programs for workers involved in handling stray dogs and animals. Senior officials attending the meeting included Deepa D. Nair, Secretary of the Animal Resources Development Department, Milind Ramteke, Secretary of Urban Development, Shankari Das, Law Secretary, Saju Wahid A., Commissioner of Agartala Municipal Corporation, Neeraj Kumar Chanchal, Director of ARD, and Uttam Kumar Chakma, Secretary of the Transport Department.
