Proactive Monitoring After Court Order
State Education Minister Gajendra Yadav confirmed that the department issued a formal order on Friday to ensure continuous surveillance of stray animals entering or loitering around schools. The directive mandates constant monitoring to prevent any potential threats to students and staff.
"Yesterday, our department issued an order in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directive. We were instructed to constantly monitor any stray animals, whether dogs or cattle, within or entering the school premises," Yadav told.
Midday Meal Incident Highlights Urgency
Minister Yadav pointed to a recent incident that underscored the critical need for this initiative. A few days ago, at a school in the Baroda Bazar district, a stray dog contaminated food intended for the midday meals scheme, resulting in a significant financial loss of approximately Rs 22 lakh.
To prevent such occurrences, schools are now tasked with monitoring the presence of animals on campus and promptly informing the concerned Municipal Corporation or Gram Panchayat for their removal and a permanent solution.
Clarification on Teachers' Roles
Addressing concerns about additional burdens on educators, Minister Yadav clarified that teachers have not been assigned the specific duty of monitoring dogs.
"There is no need to be misguided. We have not assigned any teacher to monitor the dogs. However, it should be a teacher's job to monitor who's coming and going in their school," he stated, emphasizing general campus security.
Key Directives from the Supreme Court
The state's action follows the Supreme Court's November 7 order, which highlighted the "alarming rise of dog bite incidents." The court mandated all states and Union Territories to:
Remove stray dogs from educational institutions, hospitals, railway stations, and other public places.
Ensure these premises are properly fenced to prevent animal entry.
Not release captured stray dogs back to the same location.
Transfer collected animals to designated dog shelters after vaccination and sterilisation as per the Animal Birth Control Rules.
The apex court has made Chief Secretaries personally responsible for compliance and has called for status reports within eight weeks, outlining the mechanisms put in place. This move is expected to significantly improve public safety and hygiene in and around schools across Chhattisgarh.
