As the Delhi government gears up to microchip nearly 10 lakh stray dogs over the next two years as part of its rabies action plan, experts caution that its success depends on resolving the chronic issues plaguing the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme.
As of July 2025, Delhi had recorded 26,334 dog bite cases as against 68,090 such cases reported in the previous year. Till July 31, there were 49 confirmed cases of rabies in the Capital. The Supreme Court ordered on August 11 that all stray dogs be permanently sheltered, triggering an uproar from the animal activists. It revised the order on August 22, directing the authorities to release the sterilised and vaccinated dogs and keep rabid and sick canines in shelters.
Development Minister Kapil Mishra, after a meeting with the Delhi Advisory Board for Animal Welfare on September 10, said the government will implant microchips in nearly 10 lakh street dogs in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme over the next two years. Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Standing Committee chairperson Satya Sharma confirmed that they will seek government funds to implement the initiative.
A municipal official told The Hindu that microchipping can streamline the ABC programme’s “catch-neuter-vaccinate-release” model, improving long-term monitoring. “These chips will store key details, including the animal’s vaccination and sterilisation history,” he said. The ABC rules, which were introduced under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Rules, 2001, were revised in 2023. Experts have highlighted the programme’s ineffective implementation over the past 20 years, including outdated census data, inadequate infrastructure, poor planning, and underutilisation of funds.
‘Outdated census’
The last citywide dog census was conducted in 2009, which estimated the population to be 5.6 lakh. A 2019 Delhi Assembly subcommittee projected it at 8 lakh, while the MCD’s veterinary department now estimates nearly 10 lakh stray dogs.
After the meeting, Mr. Mishra stated that a dog census should be conducted at the earliest to ensure accurate data. “How do you expect to implement a programme without knowing how many dogs you’re dealing with?” said a former director of the MCD Rabies Control Programme. “We are setting sterilisation targets based on available budgets and facilities, not on scientific need,” he added.
Experts affirm that to bring down the stray population, at least 90% of the dogs need to be sterilised in a short period. “According to rules, female dogs should be prioritised for neutering, as male dogs tend to become more aggressive after the procedure,” said Meet Asher, animal rights advocate at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
MCD’s data show that in 2022, 59,076 dogs were sterilised. In 2023 and 2024, the numbers rose to 79,959 and 1,31,137 respectively, while only 31,888 procedures were recorded as of June this year.
Long wait for funds
Between 2015 and 2024, the civic body spent over ₹60 crore for the neutering of canines, according to an MCD official. This year, ₹15 crore has been set aside for this purpose. However, no funds have been released in the current financial year, and the NGOs running the ABC centres have been awaiting disbursement since March 2025.
Sarungbam Yaiphabi Devi, founder of Animal Trust India, runs a centre in Lajpat Nagar. “The MCD pays ₹1,000 per dog, but the actual cost is around ₹2,600. When not even that is being paid, how do you expect us to keep going?” she said.
Besides lacking adequate infrastructure, many centres are reportedly grappling with a lack of qualified veterinary staff, overcrowded kennels, poor segregation of animals, outdated dog-catching techniques, and failure to tag dogs post-surgery, complicating follow-up.
Leadership gaps compound the problem. The MCD’s Veterinary Department has been without a Director for over nine months, and one of its two Additional Director posts remains vacant.
“Our veterinary department is one of the most neglected wings of the MCD,” an official said. Of the 649 sanctioned posts, 277 remain vacant, including roles for dog catchers, drivers, inspectors, and field staff.
‘ABC rules flawed’
Not only is there ineffective implementation of the ABC rules, but the rules also are “flawed”, said Meghna Uniyal, co-founder of Humane Foundation for People and Animals.
“It legalises straying and renders several protective provisions in the PCA Act useless, including the ability to shelter stray dogs. It treats unowned dogs as pets. But stray dogs are not meant to be pushed on city streets,” she said.
Ms. Sharma had also called for amending the ABC rules to allow relocation of strays, currently prohibited. “If necessary, we will approach the Central government to revise the law,” she said.
Published – September 21, 2025 01:10 am IST
