Overview
- The state DPI issued a circular appointing principals and headmasters as nodal officers to identify and report stray dogs and cattle on or near school campuses, directing district education officers to enforce the order.
- The directive references Supreme Court observations on stray-dog risks, with officials pointing to dog-bite concerns and a recent incident that spoiled mid-day meal food worth about Rs 22 lakh.
- Education Minister Gajendra Yadav defended the move as a safety step that requires schools to alert municipal bodies and ensure prompt medical care for any student bitten by a dog.
- Yadav said teachers are not assigned dog-monitoring as a standalone task but are expected to stay vigilant about entries onto school premises and share updates regularly.
- Teacher unions and opposition figures criticized the order as impractical and outside educators’ remit, arguing animal control is a civic responsibility and raising concerns about limited staff time and identifying truly stray animals.