Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 29 December 2025
In a concerted effort to manage the stray dog population and enhance public safety, the Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services (AH&VS), in collaboration with the District Administration and the Department of Rural Development, is actively implementing the PAWS (Partnering for Animal Welfare & Sterilization) initiative across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
As part of the initiative, an Orientation-cum-Training programme was organised on July 25, 2025, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives of the District Administrations, Municipal Council, Rural Development Department, members of Tribal Councils and Panchayati Raj Institutions, as well as college students. The programme focused on promoting humane, scientific and sustainable approaches to stray animal management.
While the statutory responsibility for the control and management of stray animals rests with Panchayati Raj Institutions and Municipal bodies, the Department of AH&VS has voluntarily extended its support by undertaking essential veterinary and medical interventions. These include Animal Birth Control (ABC), sterilisation and vaccination, forming the core of a coordinated and humane strategy under PAWS.
During the current month, two dedicated veterinary teams led by Dr. Mohammed and Dr. Baljit Kaur were deployed at Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep, respectively. Under the ABC programme and allied veterinary interventions, the teams successfully covered 91 animals in Shaheed Dweep and 121 animals in Swaraj Dweep.
Local leadership and officials played a key role in facilitating the programme. Smti Pinki Das, Pradhan of GP Shaheed Dweep; Shri Alok Mridha, Pradhan of Shyam Nagar; Shri Ajit Roy, Pradhan of Govind Nagar; Smti Gurjit Kaur, BDO, Prothrapur Block; along with Shri Sudhanshu Biswas and Smti C. Aleena, Panchayat Secretary, Swaraj Dweep, extended valuable support by arranging temporary dog shelters and ensuring feeding and management of animals during the campaign. The Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council (SVPMC) also provided trained dog catchers, who trained local volunteers in humane dog-catching methods, contributing to the smooth execution of the programme.
Alongside veterinary interventions, extensive awareness programmes on ‘Stray Dog Bite Prevention’ were conducted across the Islands, covering schools and the general public. In Shaheed Dweep, 636 students and teachers participated in these sessions, while in Swaraj Dweep, 1,198 students and teachers were covered. Students participated enthusiastically and were encouraged to support the ABC programme by bringing pet dogs to veterinary dispensaries for sterilisation. Members of the public were also sensitised on the importance of proper waste management and the identification of designated dog-feeding zones, particularly in tourist-frequented beaches.
Encouraged by the progress in Swaraj Dweep, similar veterinary teams have now been constituted for North and Middle Andaman. Field operations are being planned in coordination with the respective District Administrations and local bodies to ensure wider coverage and sustained outcomes. The upcoming campaign will cover towns in Rangat and Diglipur, with a focus on maximising sterilisation of stray dogs while simultaneously sensitising the public—especially school children—on responsible behaviour and the need to avoid human-dog conflict.
The Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services has appealed to residents, Pradhans and local NGOs to extend their cooperation for the successful implementation of the programme. The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has designated Helpline No. ERSS-112 for reporting the presence of stray animals in public spaces.
The collaborative implementation of the PAWS initiative reflects the Administration’s commitment to responsible stray animal management, community participation and humane animal welfare practices, in line with national guidelines and judicial directions.
