Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha stresses training, public awareness, and vaccination to prevent accidents and rabies linked to stray animals, reviewing shelter construction, Animal Birth Control Centres, and statewide stray animal management initiatives.
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Saturday stressed that structured training, sustained public awareness, and coordinated institutional action are crucial to preventing road accidents and health risks linked to stray animals, particularly rabies.
Speaking at a high-level review meeting organised by the Animal Resources Development (ARD) Department, the Chief Minister said that students, teachers, and the general public across government and private institutions must be systematically educated about rabies prevention, animal behaviour, and safety protocols.
Dr. Saha highlighted that a lack of awareness about how stray animals behave often leads to avoidable accidents and disease transmission. He emphasised that educating citizens on preventive measures, early warning signs, and basic first-aid responses can significantly reduce risks to both humans and animals.
“Public awareness about the behaviour of stray dogs and other animals is extremely important. Training and preventive education can save lives and reduce panic-driven accidents,” the Chief Minister said during the meeting.
He added that the state government has taken multiple initiatives to rescue stray animals and provide them with appropriate shelter facilities. According to Dr. Saha, these efforts are aimed at balancing public safety with animal welfare while ensuring humane management practices.
A major focus of the meeting was the progress review of shelter house construction for stray animals across 20 Nagar Panchayat areas in Tripura. The Chief Minister also reviewed the status of Animal Birth Control (ABC) Centres currently functioning under the Agartala Municipal Corporation and Dharmanagar Municipal Council. Additionally, proposals for establishing similar centres in six more districts were discussed.
Dr. Saha reiterated that vaccination of domestic animals remains one of the most effective strategies to prevent the spread of animal-borne diseases such as rabies. He urged officials to strengthen vaccination drives and maintain accurate records to ensure wider coverage.
The Chief Minister instructed departments to ensure that extensive public awareness campaigns are launched before implementing any new stray animal management programme. He noted that community participation and understanding are essential for the success of such initiatives.
He also sought detailed data on the total number of stray animals in Tripura, the operational status of Animal Birth Control Centres across different locations, and the overall progress of stray animal management initiatives. Special emphasis was placed on training programmes for workers involved in handling stray dogs and other animals, to ensure safety, efficiency, and humane treatment.
Sharing his reflections later, Dr. Saha said, “I chaired a review meeting at the Secretariat today to assess measures for managing stray dogs and other stray animals on roads, with a focus on public safety, animal welfare, and coordinated action.”
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Senior officials present at the meeting included Animal Resources Development Department Secretary Deepa D. Nair, Urban Development Secretary Milind Ramteke, Law Secretary Shankari Das, Agartala Municipal Corporation Commissioner Saju Wahid A., ARD Director Neeraj Kumar Chanchal, and Transport Department Secretary Uttam Kumar Chakma.
The meeting underscored the Tripura government’s commitment to addressing stray animal challenges through policy-driven solutions, institutional coordination, and community awareness, aiming to create safer roads and healthier environments across the state.
