PANAJI
Practical and logistical difficulties have emerged as the biggest hurdle for nearly 150 educational institutions expected to strengthen campus fencing under the stray dog safety guidelines mandated by the Supreme Court.
Several schools -- particularly those located on hillocks, operating on large open premises, etc -- have cited genuine constraints even as they work toward compliance.
The Directorate of Education had, in November 2025, instructed all institutions to implement the required safety measures, with the first status report due on November 17. The schools and colleges were directed to submit details of steps taken to prevent stray dog entry on their campuses.
The order, first issued on November 11 and followed by a reminder on November 15, covered government, aided, unaided schools, higher secondary institutions, universities and coaching centres.
Institutions were specifically asked to improve or install fencing, boundary walls and gates as part of the physical safeguards.
With the initial compliance window spanning eight weeks, the government warned that failure to comply could attract action, given that the directives arise from SC instructions.
Terrain, cost and other issues
Sources said several institutions have communicated their challenges to their parent department, which was subsequently submitted to the Directorate of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, to compile for submission to the Chief Secretary before they are placed before the Apex Court.
“Many schools have vast premises comprising buildings, playgrounds and ancillary areas. The cost of fencing these stretches is high. Others are situated on slopes or uneven terrain, making conventional fencing difficult. The schools are adhering to the directive, but practical hurdles are real,” a source revealed to The Goan.
In many places, schools have barbed-wire boundaries that offer limited protection, while some schools have broken fencing.
“A couple of meetings have been held with the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to convey these issues... It will also be placed before the Court that the concerns are not always about stray dogs alone... But this does not mean implementation will stop. The circular stands,” the source added, calling it a “tricky situation”.
It has also come to the fore that while some schools do have fencing, the height is not as per the requirement of the SC.
Additional compliance
Besides strengthening physical barriers, institutions have also been asked to appoint a nodal officer responsible for campus cleanliness and monitoring animal entry.
Quarterly inspections have been made mandatory, with contact numbers of local civic bodies also to be prominently displayed.
“If any stray dog habitat is found on or near the premises, schools must alert local authorities for removal and submit a follow-up report within a week. Schools are also required to conduct awareness sessions for students and staff on safe behaviour around animals, first-aid responses to bites and immediate reporting procedures,” the source said.
