Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala state commission for protection of child rights has asked the government to take immediate steps to contain the stray dog menace in the state.

Commission chairman P Suresh placed the demand before the government in the wake of a seven-year-old child suffering from grave injuries after being bitten by a stray dog in Kannur.

He said that the government should provide financial assistance to the child’s family for treatment as the child’s face has been severely mutilated in the stray dog attack.

Many times, the stray dogs scare away the children as they travel between their schools and homes. The commission is of the view that the Centre’s rule that the stray dogs should not be killed should not hamper the free movement of children. The commission registered a suo-motu case on the basis of media reports of the attack. The commission sought reports from the chief secretary, state police chief, director general of public education, Kannur district collector, panchayat director and director of animal husbandry within two weeks.

Workshop on child rights

The commission will hold a workshop on child rights in the capital as part of strengthening the child-rights systems. The workshop will be held at the district panchayat hall on Thursday.

