‘Sahajeevan’ Project Of Guwahati

The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has launched the ‘Sahajeevan’ project to address the growing challenges posed by stray dogs in public spaces, focusing on humane management, vaccination, and promoting coexistence between humans and animals. The initiative follows Supreme Court directives on removing stray dogs from sensitive locations such as schools and hospitals while ensuring their safe relocation.

Comprehensive Approach to Stray Dog Management

Under the ‘Sahajeevan’ project, GMC plans to relocate stray dogs from public areas to designated shelters after administering vaccination and sterilisation. The initiative aims to curb the rise in dog bite cases while ensuring animal welfare. Mayor Mrigen Sarania highlighted the importance of community awareness and compassion, noting that public resistance often hinders vaccination drives. Awareness campaigns across all city wards will be conducted to encourage responsible behaviour and understanding of animal rights.

Addressing Key Implementation Challenges

The GMC faces several hurdles, including inadequate manpower, a shortage of shelter homes, limited treatment facilities, and insufficient feeding points for animals. The mayor acknowledged that while progress may be gradual, sustained efforts would create a balanced ecosystem over time. Since 2014, the civic body has sterilised over 24,000 dogs in collaboration with the local NGO ‘Just Be Friendly’, though population control remains modest compared to the city’s growing canine numbers.

Public Health and Policy Implications

Dog bite cases in Assam have reportedly increased from around 90,000 in 2013 to nearly 1.5 lakh in 2024, underscoring the need for stronger animal vaccination coverage and improved infrastructure. The ‘Sahajeevan’ project aims to integrate sterilisation, vaccination, feeding, and relocation under a single framework. Authorities hope it will serve as a model for other urban centres dealing with similar challenges.

Exam Oriented Facts

• ‘Sahajeevan’ was launched by Guwahati Municipal Corporation to manage and vaccinate stray dogs.
• The initiative aligns with Supreme Court orders to relocate stray dogs from public spaces.
• Over 24,000 dogs have been sterilised in Guwahati since 2014 under the Animal Birth Control drive.
• Assam recorded approximately 1.5 lakh dog bite cases in 2024, up from 90,000 in 2013.

Building Compassionate Urban Coexistence

GMC’s ‘Sahajeevan’ seeks to balance public safety with compassion towards animals through systematic vaccination, sterilisation, and awareness programmes. The project reinforces the idea that urban development must include humane coexistence strategies, where both citizens and animals can share spaces safely. Authorities believe that community participation and awareness will be key to sustaining this initiative in the long term.