BBMP Invites Tenders to Provide Daily Meals for 4,000 Stray Dogs in Bengaluru

Quick summary

• Population of stray dogs: Bengaluru’s stray dog population is estimated at over 2.7 lakh, according to a recent survey.
• BBMP initiative: Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) introduced a one-year tender to feed stray dogs once daily at 100 designated spots. The program aims to reduce aggression due to lack of food and address dog bite cases.
• Feeding details:

– Around 4,000 stray dogs will be fed daily, with each spot serving up to five dogs.
– Food includes cooked rice, chicken, vegetables, oil, salt, and turmeric; quantities estimated at about 600 grams per dog with a caloric value of approximately 750 kcal.

• Operational plan:

– Contractors will prepare meals in centralized kitchens per zone using certified ingredients.
– meals transported by GPS-enabled vehicles must be served in cleaned reusable utensils by 11 a.m. daily.
– geo-tagged photographic evidence required post-feeding.

• Estimated cost: The project is expected to cost ₹2.88 crore annually for BBMP.
• Rationale behind the move:

– Aggression due to food scarcity identified as a key factor in dog attacks; feeding could mitigate such incidents.
– Initiative followed unsuccessful community-led feeding efforts after an elderly person was killed in Jalahalli last year.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The BBMP’s initiative reflects an unprecedented municipal approach toward addressing animal welfare while managing public safety concerns related to aggressive stray dog behavior and bite cases. By systematically providing food at designated spots under strict operational guidelines-centralized kitchens, specific nutritional requirements-it represents a structured intervention rather than sporadic aid.While the proactive measure may reduce aggression-related incidents near feeding zones and improve overall urban coexistence with animals, logistical challenges like maintaining regularity and efficient adherence remain critical for scaling success city-wide for nearly three lakh strays.

Additionally, this policy holds potential as a long-term model integrating both civic duty toward strays’ wellbeing and protection against risks posed by hunger-driven aggression-key if it proves effective upon evaluation while staying economically viable within strained civic budgets.

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