MC to provide free treatment

Rajinder Nagarkoti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 28

To provide relief to stray dog-bite victims, the Chandigarh Municipal today decided to provide free treatment to them. The free treatment will not only be given to city residents, but to anyone who is bitten by a stray dog.  The decision was taken in the MC  House meeting today. It will be started on six-month trial basis. Later, after analysing the six months’ report, further decision will be taken.

As per the table agenda placed by MC officials, it was stated that the cost of treatment for a stray dog-bite victim was between Rs 450 and Rs 600 whereas, it cost the MC nearly Rs 1,300. Similarly in severe cases, the MC provides human serum which costs MC nearly Rs 17,700. At present, the MC provides treatment at anti-rabies dispensaries in Sector 19 and 38. The dispensaries remain open for six days from 9 am to 3 pm. The agenda was placed in the wake of the April 22 incident, wherein, a stray dog had attacked 11 persons in Sector 15. 

8,600 dogs sterilised in past two years 

In the past two years (April 2015 to March 2017), the Municipal Corporation has sterilised 8,600 stray dogs. The civic body had given the responsibility of carrying out the sterilisation of stray dogs to Udgir-based NGO, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), two years ago. The agency was sterilising 450 dogs in a month, which was reduced to 200 dogs in a month recently.

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