In a first, the Paschim Banga Samagra Shiksha Mission (PBSSM) has issued a directive to all District Education Officers for the implementation of safety measures for preventing stray dog attacks on children in West Bengal.

According to the directive, state schools have been advised to utilise the morning assemblies to educate and sensitise the children. Some of the suggestive measures are to not to go near stray dogs or groups of dogs. The directive said that students should also be warned against throwing stones, pebbles, and sticks at dogs, as well as hitting, yelling at or running from a dog.

Teachers have also been instructed to be careful during midday meals to prevent the entry of dogs into school premises and to take extra precautions during the canine breeding season when dogs tend to be more aggressive.

The directive was issued following a letter from the department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education (MoE) of the Union government. The letter states that the NCPCR (National Commission for Protection of Child Rights) has made recommendations to ensure the safety and self-protection of children, emphasising the role of municipal bodies under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Animesh Halder, South 24 Parganas district secretary of the Secondary Teachers and Employees Association, said that since the instructions have come from the education department, they will be implemented, but there are issues which require to be “addressed first”.

“For the first time, such an initiative has been taken. It is a good initiative, but many schools have no boundary walls; no one can keep a watch of 360 degrees, the dogs will find a spot one place or another. Also many schools do not have gatekeepers, so gates remain open and the dogs wander inside.There are no night guards in schools…. we have asked for them several times over the years but no response, there are several important documents which are just unprotected,” said Halder.