Bengaluru civic agency’s plan to feed chicken meals to strays sparks debate | Bengaluru News

Bengaluru: BBMP’s initiative to provide cooked chicken-based meals to 5,000 stray dogs in the city has triggered mixed reactions from residents and social media users. Palike, however, maintains that the programme is a legal obligation under Central govt’s Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, and aims to reduce dog bites, control aggression, and improve sterilisation success.The initiative, which builds on a feeding scheme started during Covid-19, involves setting up designated feeding points monitored by zonal officials. The food will be made from chicken waste, not premium meat, BBMP clarified, countering online claims that it is providing “chicken biryani” to strays.“There is no specially prepared dish. It is made from chicken waste and tailored for canine digestion,” said Suralkar Vikas Kishor, BBMP’s special commissioner. The meals were developed through vet-approved pilot projects last year.At Rs 19 per dog per day, the programme covers food, transport, and cleaning. The food itself costs around Rs 11. The annual expenditure is projected to be nearly Rs 2.9 crore.Bengaluru has an estimated 2.7 lakh stray dogs, but the scheme will target 5,000 dogs in specific hotspot wards where sterilisation and rabies vaccination efforts are lagging. According to BBMP, many zones have already reached 70% sterilisation, and controlled feeding will help improve capture rates for neutering and vaccinations.Critics have questioned whether public funds should be used for such programmes, suggesting the money could be better spent on dog pounds. However, BBMP points out that confinement of stray dogs is illegal under the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) guidelines. The initiative follows AWBI’s ABC handbook, which recommends community management of stray dogs. BBMP says the programme’s future will depend on results. If there is a measurable reduction in dog bites and improved sterilisation outcomes, it may be continued or expanded next year.BJP’s criticismBJP leaders took a dig at the Congress govt over the plan. In a statement, BJP’s Bengaluru South district president CK Ramamurthy demanded clarification from BBMP and deputy CM DK Shivakumar. He pointed out that while the midday meal scheme incurs a cost of Rs 12.4 per meal, this scheme is set to spend Rs 22 per dog. “We are not against feeding dogs, but this policy seems like a waste of taxpayers’ money,” he said.The BJP also accused the govt of misleading people with such schemes instead of focusing on garbage disposal and fixing potholes.