BANGALORE: In the wake of the increasing stray dog menace in the city, the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) has decided to get a performance audit of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme done by the Kempe Gowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Bangalore.

The audit will be done to investigate whether the ABC programme, which was launched in 2000, has been effective. Though the BMP is spending huge funds on the programme year after year, it has not been able to control the stray dog numbers.

According to the circular issued by Mr. Jairaj, the performance audit is aimed at finding out whether the programme has really helped in reducing the canine numbers and controlling rabies.

Official sources in the BMP said that the civic body, based on the findings of the audit, would decide on whether to continue with the programme. "If we have to continue, we will also explore possibilities of modifying the programme," the sources said.

The commissioner has directed Deputy Commissioner (Health) Manu P. Baligar to contact Sudarshan, Professor and Head of Community Medicine, KIMS, and get the audit done by March 31.

The ABC was launched as a four-step programme to control and eventually rid the city of street dogs. Under the programme, street dogs are captured, sterilised, vaccinated and let back into the same location that they were caught.

The BMP started it in association with NGOs Karuna, Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) and ARF. It also enlists the support of the State Animal Husbandry Department. The important part of the programme is to release the dogs back in the area.

Protest

Members of the All-India Democratic Youth Organisation (AIDYO) on Friday staged a demonstration in front of the BMP head office seeking elimination of stray dogs in the city.

They submitted a memorandum to Mr. Baligar demanding that the BMP use modern techniques to control the stray canines and put an end to the dog menace in the next one month.

The civic body that has intensified its dog catching drive, especially in Chandra Layout, where eight-year old Sridevi was mauled to death last Friday. Another seven-year-old girl Gowramma was also bitten by a dog. The civic body has so far caught 786 dogs.

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