During a public hearing held on Tuesday in the municipal hall, everyone was surprised when one person appeared wearing a dog mask to file a complaint. The issue concerned the growing number of homeless dogs and the costs associated with their sterilization. Despite the unconventional method of submission, the raised questions prompted officials to reflect.
Dipak Rathore, the opposition leader in the Khandwa municipal council, accused the administration in a dog mask that approximately 40 million rupees had been spent on sterilizing city dogs over the past four years, yet the stray animal population has not decreased. He also stated that 13,225 people have been victims of dog bites during the same period.
The most notable part of this unusual protest at the public hearing was the 'dog's' complaint. Rathore sarcastically noted that despite millions of rupees spent on sterilization, the number of dogs continues to grow. He pointed to one dog, stating that even after its sterilization, it fathered six puppies.
Through this example, he demanded an investigation into alleged irregularities in the sterilization campaign and fund expenditure. Nevertheless, independent confirmation of the claims regarding the birth of six puppies after a dog's sterilization and the alleged expenditure of 40 million rupees was not obtained; these assertions were made by the opposition leader at the public hearing.
Presenting the data to the administration, the opposition leader asserted that 13,225 people in Khandwa had been bitten by dogs over the last four years. He questioned: if the municipal council constantly sterilizes dogs and spends millions of rupees on it, why is there no decrease in the stray animal population and bite incidents?
He demanded a full investigation into the matter. Rathore's arrival at the public hearing in a dog mask caused an attempt to stop him by police officers stationed at the entrance to the hall, which led to a brief discussion. He was later allowed to enter, after which he presented his complaint to the officials.
The fact that the person dressed in a dog mask sat on a chair during the hearing drew particular attention. This scene elicited smiles from those present. The atmosphere became even more relaxed during the hearing when Rathore jokingly told the dog that some officials were good and should not be beaten. Following this, the person in the dog costume reacted by folding their arms. However, the main issue raised amidst the jokes related to stray dogs, which had long been the subject of complaints in the city.
Considering the seriousness of the situation, Additional Collector Kashiram Badhole listened to the complaint. He mentioned that some citizens had complained about invoices amounting to about 40 million rupees for dog castration, while the work was effectively not being carried out. He clarified that he had discussed this matter with the head of the municipal council and that a committee would be formed to investigate the case. Appropriate measures would be taken after the investigation is complete.
According to the Additional Collector, the complaint contained an accusation that invoices totaling about 40 million rupees were issued for dog castration, but the actual sterilization was not performed. He emphasized that the situation would only become clear after the complaint was investigated, and actions would be taken according to established norms based on the findings.
On one hand, the protest in a dog mask became a topic of discussion at the public hearing, and on the other hand, the claims of over 13 thousand dog bite cases called into question the effectiveness of the city's system. Now, the investigation will show how effective the municipal council's system is regarding the stray animal population, their sterilization, and citizen safety. The opposition leader warned that if the complaint is not addressed, he intends to take legal action against the municipal council.
Currently, the administration has assured that it will review the complaint. The investigation will determine how much money was actually spent on sterilization over the past four years, how many dogs were sterilized, and the real situation regarding dog bite cases. Although the unusual appearance of the dog at the public hearing became a subject of discussion and laughter, the claims of 40 million rupees in expenses and 13,225 dog bites raise serious questions for the municipal council system.