150g chicken, 100g rice: Bengaluru municipality rolls out Rs 3 crore diet plan for street dogs, Bengalureans say, 'please add desserts too'
— ANI (@ANI)
Starting soon, 5,000 stray dogs across Bengaluru's eight zones will receive one carefully prepared meal every day. Each meal, costing Rs 22.42, includes:
150g chicken (protein)
100g rice (carbs)
100g vegetables (minerals)
10g oil (fats)
Together, this provides 465–750 kcal, perfect for a 15kg dog's daily needs.
According to BBMP, these meals will be served at designated feeding points, with each zone hosting 100 to 125 such spots. Vendors will be hired and held responsible for cleanliness at these locations.
BBMP believes feeding can reduce dog aggression, help monitor stray populations, and even aid in anti-rabies efforts. 'This is more than a welfare act,' said a senior official. 'It's a public safety strategy.'
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Officials say feeding will help track and access dogs more easily, making it simpler to carry out vaccinations and sterilisation, key steps in eliminating rabies by 2030.
Public Reacts: From Praise to Pothole Memes
Social media exploded with reactions. Some users praised the move, especially those already feeding strays out of their own pockets.
'Protein' Prabhu, who feeds 30 stray dogs and monkeys daily, called it a 'huge relief'. 'I spend around Rs 2,500 on dog food every day. BBMP's help will mean a lot,' he said.
Others, however, questioned the timing and priorities.
'My father was chased by strays recently. Shouldn't BBMP focus on sterilising them first?' asked one resident. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram also suggested relocating strays to shelters instead of feeding them on the streets.
Meanwhile, X (formerly Twitter) lit up with jokes. One user posted: 'Bengaluru stray dogs eat more protein than North Indians.' Another wrote: 'Dogs from across India are migrating to Bengaluru. No language barrier for them!'
A Plan With a Purpose
Despite the criticism, BBMP officials are standing firm. Special Commissioner Vikas Kishor explained that feeding will be focused in areas with high dog bite cases or low volunteer activity. 'We're not feeding all 2.8 lakh strays,' he said. 'Just around 2%, for better control and care.'
The civic body is also encouraging citizens to chip in, financially or as volunteers. 'It's a shared responsibility,' said Kishor.
Inputs from agencies
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