Bengaluru To Spend ₹2.8 Crore On Nutritious Meals For Stray Dogs

In a move hailed as groundbreaking, the Congress-led Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has unveiled India’s first citywide scheme to provide cooked meals to stray dogs. The ambitious program, with an estimated budget of ₹2.80 crore, is set to roll out across all eight zones of Bengaluru in the coming weeks.

The BBMP has invited bids from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)-registered caterers to deliver freshly prepared meals to stray dogs. According to officials, each of the eight zones-including East, West, South, RR Nagar, Bommanahalli, Dasarahalli, Yelahanka, and Mahadevapura-will see about 500 dogs fed daily, amounting to up to 4,000 dogs in the first phase. Ultimately, the project aims to reach 5,000 strays across the city.

#BREAKING

Chicken & egg rice for #Bengaluru's stray dogs!

In first of its kind move, Karnataka govt rolls out daily meals for street dogs. Rs 2.8 Cr tender floated by BBMP to provide daily meat-based meals to stray dogs across all eight city zones, roughly 600 to 700 dogs per… pic.twitter.com/qUOgQkBl2A

— Nabila Jamal (@nabilajamal_) July 10, 2025

The tender specifies that the meals must be nutritious and varied, featuring meat, chicken, and egg rice to address widespread malnutrition and hunger among street animals. The contract will run for one year, with the option for a 12-month extension based on performance and approval from the BBMP Chief Commissioner.

A step toward humane urban management

Animal welfare organisations have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a progressive example of compassionate urban governance. They argue that when stray dogs have access to regular meals, it can significantly improve their health, reduce disease transmission, and prevent aggressive behavior often triggered by starvation.

India is home to an estimated 6.2 crore stray dogs, and the country accounts for over a third of the world’s rabies-related deaths. Public health experts believe better feeding programs, coupled with vaccination and sterilization, are critical to managing this crisis.

🚨 Bengaluru's civic body has launched a dog-feeding scheme worth Rs 2.88 crore, aiming to serve chicken rice daily to 5,000 stray dogs. pic.twitter.com/3ujai8XVYD

— Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) July 10, 2025

Critics question priorities amid widespread poverty

Despite the positive reception among animal rights advocates, the scheme has stirred controversy. Many citizens have voiced frustration on social media, arguing that such large-scale funding for feeding dogs seems insensitive when thousands of Bengaluru’s poor families struggle to afford basic nutrition.

Some civic groups have demanded more transparency in budgeting and suggested the government focus first on improving human welfare and housing infrastructure before allocating crores to what they term “biryani for strays.”

Karnataka Govt floats Rs 2.8 Crore tender for chicken rice and egg rice for street dogs.

If the contractor keeps 25% of the money and shares the rest with Politicians and Bureaucrats, will the dogs complain?

No. That's the whole scheme... pic.twitter.com/gJEVlwj7jL

— Dr Ranjan (@DocRGM) July 10, 2025

BBMP defends the program as a public health strategy

BBMP officials have defended the decision, clarifying that this is not just an act of charity. Instead, they describe it as a public health intervention designed to reduce scavenging of garbage, improve neighborhood hygiene, and control the risk of stray dog attacks, especially in crowded urban pockets.

The BBMP’s tender process is currently underway. Only qualified FSSAI-registered service providers will be eligible to cook and deliver the meals. Once contracts are finalised, the daily feeding program is expected to commence in phases.

The initiative will be closely watched by other Indian cities facing similar challenges, potentially setting a precedent for how municipal corporations approach animal welfare and public health together.