The Chennai Corporation Council meeting was held yesterday at the historic Ripon Building. During the session, councillors raised several pressing issues – most notably the privatization of sanitation work, underpayment of contract workers, and the increasing menace of stray dogs, especially incidents where dogs chase and bite people riding two-wheelers or walking on the roads.In this context, a councillor raised a pointed question about the stray dog issue. However, Mayor Ms. Priya Rajan’s response was disappointingly routine and lacked concern, echoing only the standard administrative phrases. What is more alarming is that her answer failed to take into account the rising threat of rabies in various parts of the city — a deadly and fatal disease that has become a serious public health risk.At a time when rabies is posing a growing threat, such apathetic responses raise a serious question:Is the administration truly committed to protecting the lives of the people?Rabies is not just another illness; it is a horrific, untreatable disease that almost always leads to death once symptoms appear. In such a situation, the monitoring of stray dogs, vaccination drives, disease control programs, and other preventive actions must be implemented consistently and effectively by the corporation.To brush it aside as a “common issue” is not only negligent — it amounts to undermining the safety of human lives. The stray dog problem is not just something to be discussed; it is a critical issue that demands immediate and practical solutions.In this context, what the Mayor owes is not just a statement — but action.> “Since when has it become acceptable to offer ‘routine answers’ to matters concerning human lives?”Attending public functions alongside ministers and the Chief Minister is not the only duty of a Mayor. Real leadership is reflected in how effectively local crises are addressed.Every act of governance by the Corporation must earn and reinforce the trust of the public. Therefore, a casual response to a question about stray dogs — especially in the context of a fatal disease like rabies — is not just inappropriate, it is dangerous.The people are expecting a clear, transparent, and actionable response. And the responsibility for that lies with the government, the Corporation, and the Mayor alike.Human lives should never be lost to administrative indifference.—For South Indian Voice – DHRAVIDA JEEVA
