Express News Service By

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major directive, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) has asked the state government to accept the demand of certain voluntary organisations to export stray dog meat to those countries where people consume dog meat.

An order by Commission chairman J B Koshy asked the government to take necessary steps to export stray dog meat along the lines of beef export by Meat Products of India.

In the same order, the Commission said that obtaining dog ownership licence from local self-government institutions was compulsory for raising dogs. The Commission directed the Chief Secretary to initiate action against people who raise dogs without licence. According to the order, the licensee will be wholly responsible for the protection of the dog.

The order came as a settlement of 25 complaints against the government for allegedly not taking steps to tackle the stray dog menace.

The panel sought strict legal action against people who abandon dogs once they are old. Koshy also directed the police and local self-government institutions to take action against individuals who encourage stray dogs by feeding them in public.

Based on a High Court division bench order, the panel asked local self-government institutions to take prompt steps to kill rabies-infected animals.