85 Stray Dogs Starve As Mumbai University Bars Feeders From Kalina Campus
Around 85 stray dogs living across the 280-acre Kalina campus of the University of Mumbai have been left without food for the past 10 days after the university administration barred regular feeders from entering the premises. The restriction, enforced since August 25, has also prevented a non-profit organisation that routinely provided meals to the animals from accessing the grounds.
The situation prompted a formal complaint on Sunday from Nitin Nanavare, secretary of the Maharashtra state unit of the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena. In a letter addressed to the university vice-chancellor, Nanavare described the restriction as a serious and inhuman issue rather than a mere administrative mistake. Copies of the complaint were also submitted to the state governor, higher education officials, the Mumbai police, and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation commissioner.
Dog feeders who routinely visited the university grounds confirmed they have been stopped at the gates since late August. Gurudev Singh, a member of a dog-feeder group based in the Bandra Kurla Complex, said he previously visited the Kalina campus twice each day to feed the stray animals. Singh explained that the group approached university authorities and also contacted Maneka Gandhi regarding the ban, but received no assistance.
Another feeder from the Bandra Kurla Complex stated that four to five volunteers typically entered the grounds daily to feed the animals alongside a few dog lovers residing on campus. According to the feeder, internal campus dog lovers have warned that the stray dogs have become visibly weak without their regular meals. The feeder noted that many volunteers carry government-issued identity cards and urged the university administration to inspect these cards and establish designated feeding spots.
Nanavare emphasised in his letter that a university campus should uphold values of sensitivity, coexistence, and social responsibility. He called for an immediate inquiry and strict action against officials responsible for halting the animals' food supply, demanding that food and water arrangements be restored within 24 hours or his organisation would stage a protest.
Responding to the allegations, an official from the University of Mumbai stated that the administration is following directives issued by the central government and the Supreme Court. The official claimed that feeding on campus had not been completely halted because campus residents retain permission to feed the dogs, though the administration did not clarify whether external volunteers would be permitted to resume their visits.
