Microchipping Stray Dogs: A Technological Approach to Rabies Control and Urban Animal Management
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Science and Technology (Applications of Technology - RFID/Microchips); Health (Zoonotic Diseases - Rabies); Governance (Urban Local Bodies - MCD); Current events of national and international importance (UNDP involvement).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2 (Governance & Social Justice): Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health; Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States (role of municipalities).
General Studies Paper 3 (S&T/Environment): Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life; Disaster and disaster management (Rabies as a bio-hazard).
Key Highlights from the News
Delhi Government has decided to microchip approximately 10 lakh stray dogs in Delhi.
The main objectives are rabies control, preventing dog bites, and digitizing the vaccination process and sterilization information.
This project is being implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Vaccination and sterilization history of the dog will be recorded on this chip. This information can be read using handheld scanners.
As part of this project, it has also been decided to conduct a dog census and make pet shops registration mandatory.
This initiative aligns with the Supreme Court's recent order that stray dogs should be sterilized, vaccinated, and released back to the place where they were captured.
Similar projects are being implemented in other Indian cities like Bengaluru.
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