A Lady teacher in Bhilai was hurrying to reach her school on time when a street dog chased her scooty on Friday morning. Frightened, she lost control and fell. Even though she was wearing all her safety gear, she suffered serious injuries and was admitted to the ICU. To many readers, this may sound like just another routine incident. That is exactly the problem. Roads meant for vehicles and pedestrians have been taken over by dogs, cattle and even pigs, and we have slowly learned to accept it as normal. Every day it grows worse, and hardly anyone in the administration seems bothered. The courts have repeatedly reprimanded authorities over stray animals on roads. Yet these orders have fallen on deaf ears. There has been no sustained action to clear the roads of cattle and dogs.

 

People have died in accidents caused by them, and many more have been injured, but each case is soon forgotten. The cow is worshipped in this country, and politics often revolves around her. But when it comes to treating her with dignity, the care is mostly visible in front of cameras. Many people proudly claim to worship and feed cows, yet they never ask whether the roaming animals are safely housed in shelters. Owners who abandon their cattle on the roads face no penalty. Municipal bodies say they lack the time and resources, and their priorities seem to lie elsewhere. The administration must at least do its basic duty. Those who let their cattle loose on roads should be penalized. Street dogs should be sterilized and vaccinated on a large scale, and aggressive or dangerous ones should be moved to shelters so that people can travel safely. Animal lovers also have a role here.

 

It is not enough to raise their voices only when someone attacks an animal. They should equally speak up for the safety of people on the road. Many individuals and groups are working sincerely for animal welfare, but scattered efforts are not enough. Unless the work is done in mission mode, with clear targets, funds and accountability, nothing will change. Humans and animals will both keep getting hurt and killed, the animals suffering on busy roads just as much as the people. An injury or death brings grief to the affected family, and others may feel concern for a day or two. But concern alone achieves nothing. Citizens must take responsibility, raise the issue together, and keep pressing civic authorities to do their job. Residents' associations, social groups and ordinary taxpayers can file complaints, approach the courts and demand regular updates on action taken. The judiciary's warnings have achieved little, so now the public must push, firmly but patiently, until official’s act. Taxpayers have evyery right to safe roads. Our safety is ultimately in our own hands, so we must stay alert. Authorities treat this as routine, they must wake up. n