Man in dog mask protests stray dog sterilisation in Khandwa
A man wearing a dog mask was brought to a public hearing in Khandwa on Tuesday in an unusual protest against alleged irregularities in the Municipal Corporation’s stray dog
sterilisation programme.
Municipal Corporation Leader of Opposition Deepak Rathore arrived at the weekly Jan Sunwai with a person dressed as a dog to draw attention to what he alleged were discrepancies in the civic body’s sterilisation drive.
A police officer posted at the entrance initially tried to stop the two from entering, leading to a brief exchange. Officials later intervened and allowed them to attend the hearing.
Rathore said he had first approached Municipal Corporation officials over the issue but was not satisfied with the explanation provided. He subsequently submitted a complaint citing what he described as a rise in the stray dog population and increasing cases of dog bites.
According to Rathore, 13,225 dog-bite cases were reported in Khandwa over the past four years. He alleged that the civic body had spent more than Rs 40 lakh on sterilisation drives, yet the stray dog population continued to increase.
Using the masked person to make his point, Rathore claimed that the ‘dog’ had undergone sterilisation but later fathered six puppies. He questioned the effectiveness of the programme and the manner in which the sterilisation work was being carried out.
“If lakhs of rupees were truly spent on neutering dogs, why has the stray population not dropped, and why are bite cases rising?” Rathore asked, stressing that the issue was linked directly to public safety.
Rathore submitted a memorandum to ADM Kashiram Badole seeking a comprehensive inquiry into the financial and technical aspects of the sterilisation programme. He demanded scrutiny of the tender process, the eligibility of the agency engaged for the work, payment records and verification of dogs claimed to have been sterilised.
He also sought registration of an FIR against officials or contractors if an investigation establishes fraudulent billing or violations of rules.
Badole assured Rathore that the allegations would be investigated and appropriate action taken based on the findings.
The unusual protest attracted attention on social media, with users reacting to the use of a dog costume to highlight the issue.
While several users described the protest as creative and effective, others responded with humour, saying the unusual appearance ensured that the complaint received attention.
The protest has also brought renewed focus on the effectiveness, transparency and monitoring of municipal sterilisation programmes and their role in controlling the stray dog population and reducing dog-bite incidents.
