Sasaram/Patna: A fresh directive issued by the Sasaram Municipal Corporation has triggered discussion across Bihar after government schools were asked to take on an unusual responsibility: reporting on stray dogs in and around their campuses.
Under the order, which applies to schools within the municipal limits of Sasaram, each institution has been instructed to appoint a nodal officer from among its staff. The designated officer will be tasked with monitoring the presence of stray dogs near school premises, estimating their numbers and reporting how the situation might be managed.
According to the letter, the choice of nodal officer has been left to individual headmasters, and the role can be assigned to any member of the school staff. The information collected will be shared with the municipal authorities.
Municipal officials say the directive is part of a broader plan to address the stray dog problem in the city. The corporation is in the process of preparing a proposal to establish a dog pound, and officials argue that accurate, locality-wise data is essential before taking further steps.
Municipal commissioner Vikas Kumar said the instructions had been issued in line with government guidelines. He said schools were being involved to help create a reliable database on the scale of the issue across different neighbourhoods, which would guide future action.
The move, however, has raised eyebrows among educators and parents, some of whom have questioned whether monitoring stray animals should fall within the remit of school staff. The order has quickly become a talking point in Sasaram, highlighting both the growing concern over stray dogs in urban areas and the unconventional measures local bodies are sometimes forced to adopt in response.
