Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: Several non-governmental organisations involved in sterilising community dogs in Goa may be forced to suspend their work due to prolonged delays in payments from the State government, the Goa Animal Federation (GAF) has warned.
A delegation of the federation recently met Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai and submitted a memorandum highlighting the financial strain faced by NGOs carrying out sterilisation and animal care programmes across the State. The federation said that although NGOs continue to undertake surgeries and medical treatment as mandated, reimbursements from the government are often released after long delays, sometimes stretching into years.
According to GAF representatives, most animal welfare organisations rely heavily on donations and limited grants, making it difficult to sustain operations when government dues remain unpaid for extended periods. They cautioned that the situation could soon compel NGOs to scale down or completely stop sterilisation work, which plays a crucial role in controlling the stray dog population.
The federation also flagged delays in the allotment of land promised by the State government for setting up a dedicated sterilisation and training centre. While the Chief Minister had earlier assured the allotment of land for the project, GAF claimed that the process has stalled, with changes in lease terms and additional conditions making the project financially unviable.
GAF members said the proposed centre was expected to significantly enhance Goa’s sterilisation capacity and help address the issue of rising stray dog numbers over the next few years. However, uncertainty over land allotment and funding has put the plan on hold.
The federation urged the Governor to intervene and facilitate timely release of funds and resolution of administrative hurdles, stressing that uninterrupted sterilisation programmes are essential for both public safety and animal welfare in the State.
