The Indian Express   21.08.2012

Complicated registration process discourages pet owners from applying for licences

Even as the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) makes it mandatory for pet owners to have a pet licence, most are discouraged from applying for it because of the complicated process and citizen-unfriendly approach, say pet owners. The result — a vast majority of pets in the city are as yet unregistered.

Sarika Patil, a Wanowrie resident, had always wanted a dog. Before bringing the puppy home, however, she says she called the PMC to find out how to get a dog licence. She was told that she would have to take the puppy to the office along with its pedigree certificate, its health and vaccination reports, her identity proof, residence proof, photographs of the dog and other documents. The process sounded too long and complicated for Patil and she decided to not to get a pet.

According to the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act of 1949, however, the only documents needed for pet registration are complete and updated vaccination records of the pet along with the pet’s registration form. “Pet owners only need to prove that their dogs have been vaccinated regularly. Asking for a picture of the dog is a harmless request and should not be too difficult for pet owners. However, asking for so many documents is unnecessary and the PMC officials are just being whimsical and difficult when making such demands,” says Manoj Oswal, animal welfare officer at the Animal Welfare Board of India.

Gayatri Adarsh is a fitness consultant living in Kondhwa and owns 12 dogs. She had filled in forms for all the dogs but when she took the forms to the local ward office, she was told she couldn’t register so many dogs and some of them would have to be given away. “The PMC officials don’t know anything about animals. They don’t know the breeds, or the diseases that can affect them. I am perfectly capable of keeping 12 dogs or as many dogs as I want and unless they can prove that the dogs are not being kept well, they cannot tell me to give them away,” says a distraught Adarsh.

“We had a pet licence for our seven-year-old dog, which was revoked by the PMC when neighbours complained about our dog. The neighbours filed a suit against us saying our dog had jumped on them. We won the case and proved that the accusations were false but the PMC still refused to restore the licence,” said Dilip Sural who lives near Pune University.

Dr Somnath Pardeshi, medical officer at PMC, said, “If complaints about a pet come in, we can confiscate the pet if the owner doesn’t have a licence. A licence also helps if a pet is missing, since it makes it easier to establish ownership,” he said.

According to Pardeshi, the licensing department for pets at PMC is burdened by requests for licences as the number of pets has increased substantially in the past few years. “However, all you need is the form, vaccination reports for the dog and the registration fees, which depends on how old the dog is,” he said.

The Indian Express   21.08.2012

Ayurveda docs will not be removed from YCM hospital: PCMC chief

Last week, about 30 resident doctors were asked to vacate official accommodation at the hospital by August 23: Civic body plans to revamp medical facilities at the hospital

A week after Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) asked as many as 30 resident doctors at civic-run YCM Hospital to vacate official accommodation at the hospital by August 23, Municipal Commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi, on Monday, said the doctors would not be removed and would be allowed to work under senior doctors.

Officials said the Corporation is also trying to revamp its medical facilities. Pardeshi said, “These resident doctors are ayurveda doctors with BAMS degree. YCM is an allopathic hospital and norms do not allow ayurveda doctors to handle patients in an allopathic hospital. If anything goes wrong, YCM chief will be held responsible. As per the norms, of the total doctors, we can have only 25 per cent ayurveda doctors. Currently, this number was more than 25 per cent,” he said. Civic officials said the hospital has nearly 70 ayurveda doctors. Now, the state government has also decided to send 35 MBBS doctors to YCM Hospital for one year, officials said.

Meanwhile, the civic body’s move asking resident doctors to vacate YCM Hospital premises has drawn flak from activists, especially in view of the fact these doctors have been working round the clock at the hospital and that too without taking a penny from the civic administration. “Resident doctors currently working with YCM Hospital are the backbone of the hospital. They are available 24 X 7 and are the first interface between patients and the hospital,” said a senior YCM doctor.

Last week, when the doctors were asked to look for alternative accommodation, they had stopped working as a sign of protest. Many of them were in tears as they sought to know their fault for what they described as humiliating treatment meted out to them. “We work under senior doctors and are ready to learn and work round the clock,” said a resident doctor.

Dr Pardeshi said since the government has sent 35 MBBS doctors who are experts in various streams, it will help improve the situation at YCM Hospital. Former corporator Babu Nair, though complemented the civic chief over new appointments, said, “Doctors whether ayurveda or allopath should be treated with respect.”

On Friday and Saturday, two MBBS doctors who wanted to join YCM Hospital refused to take up the assignment given to them. PCMC health chief Dr Anand Jagdale said the civic chief will sensitise the new joinees. “We will get things done from them...”

Meanwhile, the PCMC is working hard to improve its medical facilities, officials said. Dr Jagdale confirmed that the PCMC was preparing a “vision document of health” till 2030. “We are seeking advice and information about the kind of health and medical facilities will be required till 2030. For this, we are inviting doctors, specialists and other experts for a brainstorming session,” he said. Dr Jagdale said improving facilities at periperhy hospitals would ease the load on YCM Hospital.