Pune Civic Body to Launch ‘Mission Annada’ to Feed Stray Dogs; ₹1 Crore Allocated in Budget

Pune Municipal Corporation plans a structured feeding programme for stray dogs under ‘Mission Annada’, allocating ₹1 crore to provide regular food, improve animal health and reduce aggression on city streets.

Pune | March 16, 2026: In an effort to address issues related to stray dogs and public safety, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is set to launch a new initiative titled ‘Mission Annada’, aimed at providing regular food to stray dogs across the city.

The programme, inspired by a similar model implemented in Bengaluru, has been allocated a special budget of ₹1 crore in the civic body’s annual financial plan. Through this initiative, designated feeding points will be created across Pune where stray dogs will be provided with regular and hygienic meals.

According to civic officials, the city currently has an estimated population of nearly 2.5 lakh stray dogs, based on recent municipal surveys. Many of these animals are often seen wandering on streets in search of food, which officials say contributes to rising aggression and incidents of dog bites.

Authorities believe that ensuring a steady food supply can significantly reduce such behaviour, as hunger is often considered one of the primary reasons behind aggressive tendencies in stray animals.

The initiative also has a public health and animal welfare component. Veterinary officials associated with the programme have pointed out that during sterilisation drives, several stray dogs were found to weigh less than 10 kilograms, indicating severe undernourishment. Low body weight can make the use of anaesthesia during sterilisation procedures risky, thereby complicating population control measures.

Providing nutritious food through the proposed feeding centres is expected to improve the health condition of stray dogs and support ongoing animal birth control and vaccination programmes carried out by the municipal authorities.

Under ‘Mission Annada’, the PMC plans to establish specific feeding points across different parts of the city. These locations will follow fixed feeding schedules and maintain hygiene standards to ensure that the initiative does not create sanitation issues in surrounding areas.

Officials also stated that awareness boards will be installed at these feeding points to inform citizens about the programme and encourage responsible behaviour toward animals. The civic body hopes that clear guidelines and structured feeding arrangements will help reduce random feeding on roadsides and maintain cleanliness.

Dr Sarika Funde-Bhosale, a veterinary officer associated with the project, said the civic body has prepared a structured plan to regulate feeding activities while ensuring that the locations remain clean and organised. She added that after the initial phase is successfully implemented, more feeding points may be developed across the city.

Municipal officials say the initiative will begin on a pilot basis, and its outcomes will be closely monitored before expanding the programme further. If implemented effectively, Pune is expected to become the first municipal corporation in Maharashtra to introduce such a systematic feeding plan for stray dogs.

Animal welfare groups have welcomed the move, stating that structured feeding combined with sterilisation and vaccination programmes could help create a balanced approach toward managing the city’s stray dog population.

With ‘Mission Annada’, the PMC aims to address both animal welfare concerns and public safety, while promoting a more organised and humane method of dealing with the growing stray dog population in Pune.

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