Over 10,000 Talatis-cum-Mantris (village-level administrative officers) in Gujarat are reportedly on edge over a state government directive requiring them to catch stray dogs within their respective jurisdictions, sterilise them, and send them to shelter homes.

The government issued the order following the Supreme Court ruling directing states to take action to curb the stray dog menace. The government order has sparked controversy, with an organisation representing Talatis writing to the state government, calling the new responsibility both “insulting” and “impractical”.

On November 7, the Supreme Court, while hearing a suo motu public interest litigation, directed all states to take measures to address the stray dog problem. In response to this directive, the Gujarat government’s rural

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