At a time when the issue of stray animals in the national capital is directly in the headlines, the major department that expects to control the population of stray dogs and cattle, not only the head -free, but also suffers from large -scale vacancies as various job profiles, to operate animal catch field staff, drivers, inspectors and veterinary officers.
According to MCD data, in the 649 sanctioned posts in the Veterinary Department, 277 are vacant, which is a decrease of 42.68%. The post of director has been vacant for more than nine months, while one of the two additional directors posts is also unformed.
A senior municipal officer said that the leadership gap is a hindrance to coordination. The official said, “The director is expected to proceed to the department and look after its functions. Now that a huge practice has been ordered by the court, the manpower will need to be increased, but we do not even have employees on sanctioned positions,” the official said.
The Supreme Court recently ordered that all stray dogs in Delhi and National Capital Region should be kept in shelters as soon as possible. The court directed the officials to build shelters for at least 5,000 dogs within six to eight weeks, start the immediate capture operation, and “free the areas from stray dogs”. A argument seeking to stay on the order has been reserved.
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The MCD officer said that supervisory roles are severely affected. According to the data, 60% of the veterinary officer post, against the sanctioned strength of 45, with 27 vacancies, are empty. About half of the animal Inspector Post, 18 out of 18, are also empty. These officials are expected to provide supervisory surveillance, with cattle -catch vehicles, and execute vaccination campaigns.
Lack of operational staff is equally severe. The department requires 64 drivers to operate the vehicles, but only 27 are in the position of 27, giving 57.8% of the posts vacant. In the Animal Catcher Field Staff, which is now designated as a multi-tasking staff (veterinary), one-third of the posts are vacant, with 109 vacancies out of 350. The administrative manpower is even more thin. 78 against the approved Junior Secretariat Assistants, who handle documentation, record-holding and clerical work, are only 26 places, and 52 posts are vacant.
The contractual sector employees are hiring and running in the final stages, but permanent posts will require more time for recruitment through the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB).
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“We have senior employees who can train and deploy dogs to catch them,” said the MCD officer.
Rabindra Sharma, Director of Veterinary Services, East South Delhi Municipal Corporation, described the situation as unprecedented. “Even if there are not enough drivers, the existing van cannot be operated at full efficiency. Veterinary officers ensure that work is done in areas, inspections and stray cattle are with vehicles to remove cattle. If not enough JSAs, documentation work always falls on other authorities.”
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The veterinary department oversees a wide range of tasks. These include the operation of slaughterhouses, license of meat shops, checking illegal slaughter, dealing with cattle danger and removing unauthorized dairies. It also applies the animal birth control program for dogs, operates anti-rabies vaccination drives, and manages monkey-catching operations through contractors that hand over animals to wildlife sanctuaries in Asola furnaces mines.
