Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar took a decisive step toward eliminating rabies on Friday with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mission Rabies India – Worldwide Veterinary Service, which will serve as the technical partner for the campaign. The College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry at OUAT has also joined the initiative as the scientific advisor.
The MoU was formalised in the presence of the Mayor of Bhubaneswar Sulochana Das, the BMC commissioner, the additional commissioner, the dean of the College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, and the Project Director of Mission Rabies, along with senior officials and implementing teams.
The collaboration is designed to accelerate the city’s goal of becoming “rabies-free” by intensifying mass anti-rabies vaccination of stray dogs and improving surveillance and public awareness around animal health, according to BMC.
This MoU aims to strengthen rabies prevention, surveillance, diagnostics, and response mechanisms through structured technical and scientific interventions. It also supports mass anti-rabies vaccination of dogs andthe disease response activities using data-driven planning and monitoring
tools.
The effort is expected to bolster both public safety and animal welfare across Bhubaneswar, marking a structured and long-term response to one of the city’s leading zoonotic threats.
Officials emphasised that the project will be rolled out in a phased manner and supported by sustained veterinary expertise, community engagement, and scientific monitoring.
Separately, an MoU was signed between BMC and the Centre for Green Mobility for technical assistance and advisory support to the Non-Motorized Transport Cell.
This initiative aims to promote pedestrian-friendly streets, enhance #nonmotorizedtransport infrastructure, and ensure safe and inclusive accessibility for all.
