Delhi Development Minister Kapil Mishra has issued several important directions for animal welfare in the city. One of the key decisions includes installing microchips on one million straystray dogs over the next two years, conducting a dog census, implementing feeding guidelines, and taking strict action against illegal pet shops.

The directions were given during a meeting of the Animal Welfare Board held at the Delhi Secretariat on Wednesday. Officials present included Development Commissioner Shurbir Singh, senior officers from the Animal Husbandry Department, NDMC, MCD, and other related departments.

One of the key topics discussed was the National Rabies Control Programme. With World Rabies Day approaching, the board decided to take comprehensive measures to control rabies in Delhi. These steps include microchipping dogs, preventing dog bite incidents, and digitising vaccination records. Special focus will be placed on strengthening dog population management and rabies control.

The microchipping work will be carried out with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The board also decided to form an Animal Market Monitoring Committee to oversee the activities of animal markets in Delhi. Mishra emphasised that a dog census and monitoring system should be implemented as soon as possible to collect accurate data for better planning in the future.

It was also decided that registering pet shops in Delhi will soon be made mandatory. A dedicated monitoring committee will ensure all shops follow the rules, and regional committees will be activated to monitor compliance at the local level. Awareness programmes about animal welfare will also be launched in schools in collaboration with the Education Department.

Board members will have the opportunity to attend national and international conferences and training programmes to further improve animal welfare initiatives. Mishra directed officials to prepare detailed guidelines covering pet shop registration, rabies control, dog microchipping, prevention of dog bites, and monitoring committee roles. Social media will be used more actively to increase public awareness and participation.

Mishra noted that the Animal Welfare Board had not met for several years under the previous government. With sufficient funds now available, district-level Animal Welfare Committees will be formed, and a State Action Plan for rabies control will be prepared before World Rabies Day. Financial support will also be provided wherever needed to ensure Delhi sets an example for animal welfare across India.

Administrative and financial matters were also discussed, including transferring funds from the Delhi Advisory Board for Animal Welfare to the Delhi Animal Welfare Board, forming standing and sub-committees, recruiting staff, and approving expenditure to ensure the smooth functioning of the board’s programs.