Jaipur: The stray dog menace in Rajasthan has become a serious public safety issue, with rising dog bite cases causing widespread concern, particularly among parents.In several regions of the state, including Jaipur, Kota, Bharatpur, Udaipur and Alwar, incidents made local parks and residential lanes unsafe for children and the elderly.Official data showed over 4.22 lakh dog bite cases were recorded across the state in the past year, averaging more than 1,100 cases per day. This surge led to an unprecedented demand for anti-rabies vaccines, with over 86,965 doses requested already in the early part of 2025–26.Amid growing public outrage, administrative authorities appeared to shift responsibility between departments. The health department stated its primary duty was to ensure vaccines and serum were readily available after a bite. Officials also emphasised the importance of proactive roles from municipal corporations and the animal husbandry department in prevention.Jaipur Municipal Corporation-Greater (JMC-G) in March 2024 awarded a Rs 2.1-crore three-year contract to Human Welfare Society for sterilisation and stray dog population control. Despite this, the city continued to register 17 to 20 dog bite complaints daily.JMC-G commissioner Gaurav Saini defended the civic body’s actions, stating that the budget was being used appropriately, diseased animals were being identified, and sterilisation efforts were underway.However, Rajeev Chaudhary, Leader of Opposition in JMC-G, criticised the animal management wing of the corporation. “Jaipur has effectively become the dog bite capital. Mismanagement of tenders has only worsened the crisis,” he said.
