TFP Bureau, Raipur, November 24, 2025: The School Education Department of Chhattisgarh has announced a stringent, state-wide safety protocol to protect students from stray dog-related threats on and around school premises. The action follows the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s instructions in Suo Moto Writ Petition (Civil) No. 05/2025 and has been framed in coordination with the Livestock Development Department, which issued key directives earlier this month.
The new protocol mandates that the principal or head of every school will now serve as the Nodal Officer responsible for enforcing preventive measures and ensuring immediate reporting of any stray dog presence. These measures apply equally to government, private, aided, and unaided schools across the state.
According to the guidelines, schools must remain vigilant and report sightings of stray dogs without delay to the designated Dog Catcher Nodal Officer of the local body—Gram Panchayat, Janpad Panchayat, or Municipal Corporation. Institutions have been asked to install physical barriers, gates, grills, or any suitable protective structures to prevent dogs from entering classrooms, playgrounds, or school corridors.
The guidelines place strong emphasis on rapid medical response. In any dog-bite incident, it is the school administration’s responsibility to immediately take the injured child to the nearest health centre or hospital for first aid, vaccination and further treatment. Officials stressed that delays in medical attention could pose significant health risks and must be avoided under all circumstances.
The Education Department has described the new system as essential for ensuring a “safe, fear-free, and supportive learning environment” for children. Authorities have directed district-level education officers, Block Education Officers (BEOs), Block Resource Coordinators (BRCs), Cluster Resource Coordinators (CRCs), and School Management Committees (SMCs) to strictly adhere to the instructions. Regular monitoring, record-keeping, and swift compliance have been made compulsory.
The department stated that the implementation of this protocol has been prioritised with urgency and sensitivity, aligning fully with the Supreme Court’s intent to curb stray dog-related risks in public spaces. Officials also highlighted that school-level reporting, community coordination, and timely response by local bodies will form the backbone of this statewide safety mechanism.
With thousands of schools and lakhs of children across Chhattisgarh, the government affirmed that the new measures aim to ensure comprehensive, uniform and long-term protection for students—making school campuses safer and restoring confidence among parents and the wider community.
