Chicken rice funded by taxpayers will soon be part of a unique ₹2.9-crore scheme by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), aiming to launch organized daily feeding for stray dogs across the city.
Designed to reduce attacks and bolster community safety, the programme plans to cater to 5,000 strays in all eight zones. Each animal is set to receive a 367-gram portion crafted to fulfil nutritional requirements of a 15kg dog.
Priced at ₹22.42, each serving contains 150g chicken for protein, 100g rice for carbohydrates, 100g vegetables for minerals, and 10g oil for fats—supplying between 465 and 750 kilocalories.
Hygienic feeding areas are a compulsory element of the plan. BBMP will appoint authorized vendors, assigning them to feed and monitor around 400–500 dogs per zone across 100–125 designated locations.
Animal husbandry commissioner Suralkar Vikas Kishore stated this is India’s first municipal effort to systematically feed large numbers of stray animals. Officials emphasized it is not just about compassion but also about public health and safety.
However, the proposal has triggered strong debate. Animal activists applaud the move as a humane step, but skeptics contend that sterilisation is a more practical use of funds.
“My elderly father was chased recently. Feeding won’t fix this,” argued Sowmya Ramesh of Jayanagar. Conversely, Kiran Raj from Hulimavu said responsible execution could significantly help both dogs and communities.