MCD Drafts Comprehensive Plan for Delhi's Stray Dog Management
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has taken a significant step toward addressing the city's stray dog population. Officials have submitted a detailed draft proposal to the commissioner for administrative approval. This plan focuses on strengthening monitoring, vaccination, and population control measures across all areas of the national capital.
Microchipping and Digital Tracking System
At the core of the proposal lies a microchipping initiative. Each stray dog will receive a tiny chip, roughly the size of a grain of rice, through an injection at the back of its neck. These chips will store essential information about the animal.
The data includes the dog's tentative age, color, specific area or ward of habitation, immunization schedule, and the name of the responsible NGO. Each microchipped dog will receive a unique identification number, enabling reliable tracking over many years.
All collected information will be uploaded to a dedicated digital portal. MCD will develop this software system specifically for the program. Officials from the civic body will have full access to the portal for monitoring purposes.
Vaccination Drive and Accountability Measures
The vaccination component forms another critical part of the strategy. According to the proposal, vaccination will continue for four full years after the initial microchipping. Dogs will receive annual booster doses during this period.
Officials explain that while dogs develop antibodies after vaccination, periodic immunization remains necessary to maintain effectiveness against diseases like rabies. The program aims to create a comprehensive immunization shield across Delhi's stray population.
MCD has incorporated strict accountability measures for NGOs engaged in sterilization and vaccination work. The civic body will penalize organizations if new dog births occur in their assigned areas after sterilization procedures.
Specifically, the approved framework mandates a 2% deduction from the NGO's annual payment for every new birth detected post-sterilization in its jurisdiction. In more serious cases involving rabies-related human casualties, the penalty increases substantially to 10% of the annual payable amount.
Implementation Strategy and Infrastructure
Once the commissioner clears the proposal, MCD plans to initiate the tender process. The civic body will also approach the Delhi government for financial support under the chief minister's development fund.
Several agencies will likely be empanelled to ensure smooth and timely implementation of the ambitious program. MCD has set a target of covering the entire city within one year as part of this large-scale drive.
In the tender process, preference will go to experienced agencies. The microchips themselves must be ISO-certified and fully compatible with scanners to ensure accurate identification and medical reliability.
Participating NGOs will receive scanners to provide to their field staff. These devices will verify vaccination and sterilization status of dogs, particularly when complaints of dog bites are received. Scanners will also be available at zonal offices and MCD headquarters for quick access to records.
Existing Programs and Infrastructure Expansion
This new initiative builds upon existing efforts. According to recent figures, MCD sterilized 68,408 stray dogs between April and November 2025 as part of its ongoing Animal Birth Control program.
To further strengthen infrastructure, the civic body plans to construct additional kennels at five existing ABC centers. These facilities are located at Bijwasan, Bela Road, Usmanpur, and two locations in Rohini.
Additionally, the corporation has issued a public notice identifying 735 designated stray dog feeding locations across 250 wards. Work on installing signboards at these spots is currently underway.
The comprehensive approach addresses multiple aspects of stray dog management simultaneously. Microchipping enables better tracking, vaccination protects public health, and strict accountability ensures program effectiveness. This exercise will also help address the long-pending demand for a comprehensive dog population census in Delhi.
Agencies engaged for the task will be required to upload daily reports on the numbers of dogs microchipped and vaccinated. This regular reporting will provide MCD officials with up-to-date information on program progress across different areas of the city.
