Shillong Launches Pilot Plan to Wipe Out Rabies by 2030

Shillong: East Khasi Hills officials kicked off an action plan on September 1 to eliminate dog-mediated rabies by 2030. They picked Laban as the pilot site for the project. The program aims to tackle rising dog-bite reports and manage the area's stray population. District authorities officially launched the effort at the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

Teams will count, vaccinate, and sterilize stray dogs while providing post-surgery care. The plan also forces pet owners to register their animals with local Rangbah Shnong and keep proof of vaccination. Authorities will track these records with help from community leaders. Officials also plan to strictly control where people feed strays. Feeding animals outside designated spots will be banned.

East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal confirmed the district battles frequent dog bites, noting that many incidents likely go unreported. "Community leaders as a key part of the programme's implementation," Baranwal stated regarding the role of local figures. Additional Deputy Commissioner F.B. Basan pushed for teamwork between the government and local residents to ensure the program succeeds.

The administration split duties between the police, health departments, and local groups. Once the pilot clears the vaccination phase in Laban, they will begin sterilizations. Officials plan to roll out this model to the rest of Shillong and rural areas after evaluating the initial results.