New Statewide Protocol Introduced to Protect Children from Stray Dogs on School Premises
Raipur (thestates.news) |In a significant move to strengthen child safety across all educational institutions in Chhattisgarh, the School Education Department has issued stringent guidelines following the clear directives of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Suo Moto Writ Petition (Civil) No. 05/2025. Acting in accordance with the instructions of the Chhattisgarh Government’s Livestock Development Department (Letter No. E-166671 & 153108/LAW-42/1802/2025/1724 dated 13.11.2025), the department has introduced a comprehensive system to safeguard students from stray dog-related risks within and around school campuses.
According to the new guidelines, the principal or head of every school in the state has now been designated as the Nodal Officer responsible for implementing these safety measures. The nodal officer must immediately report the presence of any stray dogs in or around the school premises to the designated Dog Catcher Nodal Officer of the concerned Gram Panchayat, Janpad Panchayat, or Municipal Corporation. Schools must also ensure preventive measures by installing adequate barriers or deterrents to restrict the entry of dogs into the campus.
In the event of a dog-bite incident, the school administration will bear the responsibility of promptly taking the affected child to the nearest health centre to ensure immediate access to first-aid and medical care.
The Education Department has emphasized that these directives aim to create a safe, fear-free, and supportive environment for every child in all schools across the state. In alignment with the Supreme Court’s orders and under the guidance of the Livestock Development Department, this initiative is being implemented with urgency, sensitivity, and strict monitoring.
The department has called upon district-level officers, BEOs, BRCs, CRCs, and School Management Committees (SMCs) to adhere rigorously to these instructions and to place students safety at the highest priority.
