Bengaluru: BBMP's ‘Chicken Rice Bhagya’ for stray Dogs faces scrutiny amid rising attacks on residents

In a city grappling with a surge in stray dog attacks, a BBMP initiative to feed street dogs with chicken rice, at a cost of nearly Rs 2.88 crore annually is under the spotlight. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had introduced this programme with the aim of reducing aggression among strays caused by lack of proper nutrition.

Also Read:Bengaluru: Husband kills wife by strangling and forcing his foot on her neck after felling her to floor

The situation has escalated in recent months, with several reports of dogs attacking residents, especially in localities with poor waste disposal or dense stray populations. Experts and civic officials suggest that hunger among dogs is a major contributing factor, as unfed dogs tend to become more territorial and aggressive.

This prompted BBMP to experiment with the ‘Kukkur Tihar’ initiative last year, inspired by Nepal’s festival honouring dogs. The plan involved partnerships with local hoteliers, requesting them to donate leftover food to feed strays at night. However, the scheme was poorly implemented and lacked proper monitoring, ultimately rendering it ineffective.

Now, under the ‘Chicken Rice Bhagya’ programme, BBMP has proposed providing nutritious meals to the city’s estimated 2.5 lakh stray dogs. But clarity is missing on how and where the food will be distributed, whether through dedicated feeding centres or in public spaces, raising questions around hygiene and public safety.

Animal welfare experts have welcomed the intent but demand a structured approach, including fixed feeding zones, veterinary care, and long-term sterilisation plans. Citizens, meanwhile, remain divided, some support feeding as a humane solution, while others fear it could worsen human-animal conflict if not managed responsibly.