NGOs in Northeast commence drives to feed stray animals due to nationwide lockdown

Agartala: Several NGOs in northeastern states have come forward to feed the stray animals, especially dogs, cows, and monkeys, who are facing starvation due to the countrywide lockdown following coronavirus.

The dreaded virus and subsequent lockdown across India have not only shattered the lives of people but also animals and birds. “If we ignore it, it could lead to a more severe problem. Stray animals, especially dogs if left starving, may start attacking people. If they begin dying, the carcasses could pose health problems,” West Tripura District Magistrate Sandeep Mahatme N. told IANS.

The IAS officer said : “As homeless or stray animals are maximum in West Tripura district (out of Tripura’s eight districts) we have asked three NGOs to look after these animals. We are also providing foodgrains to these NGOs so that they can feed the stray animals.”

The NGOs have been asked to form teams with at least two persons in each team. Through two-wheeler, they would travel to different places to feed the stray animals. “We are also issuing curfew-passes to the members of these NGOs,” said Mahatme N, also an MBBS doctor.

“Pawsome”, a non-profitable NGO, has been providing foods and other nursing to the stray animals since 2016.

“We have been feeding more stray animals than we did before the lockdown started earlier this week, ‘Pawsome’ General Secretary Wrighbed Dutta told IANS.

Guwahati-based writer and researcher Samudra Gupta Kashyap said that hundreds of monkeys living in and around temples across Assam and other states are also beginning to feel the pinch of lockdown. IANS.

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