Dogs a bone of contention at JNU campus

Feeding stray dogs has become an intense issue, lately, in the premises of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). A group of women has alleged that the authorities have stopped them from feeding the strays in the campus and the strays are starving.

“We have been looking after these dogs for a decade now, and suddenly we are refrained from doing so,” says Neerja Chaudhry, who is part of the group. “A female dog recently, gave birth to puppies and when we pleaded the chief security officer to let us take care of them, he replied ‘let them die’. They broke the thermocol house that we had made for them,” she adds.

Neerja explains that as per the High Court orders, Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), strays can be fed at designated feeding spots. “Some of us in our group are JNU alumni and one even has a feeder’s card. But the guards have our vehicle numbers, and stop us from entering. They’ve even physically misbehaved with us, and thrown away the pet food. The police refuses to help, saying that it’s JNU administration’s call and they can’t do anything about it,” she says. The JNU administration, however, asserts, “The security has never assaulted anybody. JNU residents can feed strays at designated points. Notice boards are displayed to identify these,” says Poonam S Kudaisya, PRO, JNU. “The administration had passed orders restricting the entry of outsiders and cases have been filed against it. But, we haven’t misbehaved with anyone,” says Naveen Yadav, chief security officer, JNU.

Meenakshi Awasthi, from People for Animals says, “What the JNU authorities are doing is illegal. Volunteers can feed the dogs as JNU isn’t a restricted space and has established 15 feeding places. The chancellor of the varsity has asked the vice chancellor to step in but he isn’t taking a stand.”