Categories: India

Khichdi with dog food served to street canines in Noida

<p>
In the time of coronavirus, the focus is on human lives—how many people have been infected, how many deaths, plight of the poor, loss of, and so on. Not many have spared any thought for the street animals—scores of dogs, cats, cows. As people have locked themselves up in their homes since March 25, street animals have been suffering quietly.</p>
<p>
Dost Animal Care, an initiative of the Democratic Outreach for Social Transformation (Dost), has come up with a unique programme to feed street animals in the national capital region of Noida. The NGO, under the aegis of Gopal Krishna Agarwal, BJP’s spokesperson for economic affairs, has been running a few kitchens, including one which is in his own house. The NGO has been feeding street animals since April, just after the nationwide lockdown was imposed.</p>
<p>
Members of the NGO have been preparing 15-20 kg of khichdi every day to feed the street dogs in the satellite town. Interestingly, the khichdi—typically a mix of daal or lentils and rice—has dog food too mixed in it, to provide nutrition to the canines. “The khichdi is made with dog food, this is important as they need protein and other nutrients.</p>
<p>
So, while we make about 15-20 kg of khichdi, there is a good mix of dog food added to the khichdi. The khichdi is then taken to different parts of Noida for street dogs,” Agarwal said. Beside feeding dogs and cats which live on the streets, the NGO also helps a few gaushalas or cow shelters where about 1,100 street cows are given shelter.</p>
<p>
Their food and care is separately provided. “It is heart-breaking to see their plight, they have gone without food and while most of us do not bother about their psychology, they are suffering from anxiety and depression as streets which have been their homes have suddenly gone deserted,” a practising vet told IN. Agarwal, meanwhile said that the NGO has also set up helplines to ensure that food is available at any time of the day.</p>

Mahua Venkatesh

Mahua Venkatesh specialises in covering economic trends related to India and the world along with developments in South Asia.

Recent Posts

China retaliates, increases tariff on US goods to 84 per cent

In a retaliatory move, China on Wednesday announced it will increase its tariff on US…

28 minutes ago

President Murmu, Slovakian counterpart Pellegrini agree to work towards strengthening bilateral ties

President Droupadi Murmu held a meeting with her Slovakian counterpart Peter Pellegrini in Bratislava on…

1 hour ago

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasises on food security at BIMSTEC Agriculture Ministerial Meeting

Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, led a…

2 hours ago

Concerned about rhetoric from Bangladesh: EAM Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday expressed concerns about radicalizing tendencies, attacks on minorities,…

3 hours ago

PoGB: Tragic accident in PoGB highlights urgent need for safety as authorities remain unresponsive

A tragic traffic accident in the Bagardo area of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) has once again…

3 hours ago

Balochistan witnesses surge in extrajudicial killings as twelve bodies found in two days

A sharp rise in alleged extrajudicial killings of forcibly disappeared individuals in Balochistan has sparked…

3 hours ago