In a heartwarming initiative, schools across West Bengal are opening their hearts and campuses to stray dogs, fostering a culture of empathy and spiritual connection with all living beings. The Paschim Banga Samagra Shiksha Mission (PBSSM) has introduced a directive encouraging schools to feed stray dogs daily, aiming to sensitize students to the sacred duty of caring for animals in their communities. This move, inspired by a call from former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi, reflects a profound blend of kindness and spiritual responsibility toward the voiceless creatures sharing our world.
The advisory, issued on June 20, 2025, suggests that schools designate a staff member, preferably from the midday meal self-help group, to feed stray dogs just outside the campus at a fixed time each afternoon. This simple act of offering food is more than a gesture—it’s a lesson in compassion, teaching students to see the divine spark in every living being. By nurturing these animals, students learn to embody the spiritual principle of ahimsa (non-violence) and cultivate a sense of unity with nature. The initiative also includes collaboration with the District Office of Animal Resource Development to ensure the dogs are sterilized and vaccinated, promoting responsible care that respects both human and animal welfare.
This program arrives as a gentle counterbalance to earlier concerns about stray dogs in West Bengal. In April 2024, the PBSSM issued safety guidelines following reports of stray dog attacks, advising students to avoid provoking these animals and to take precautions during breeding seasons. Now, the focus has shifted from fear to love, recognizing that understanding and kindness can transform relationships between humans and strays. By feeding and caring for these dogs, schools are not only addressing practical concerns but also sowing seeds of empathy that align with spiritual teachings across traditions—whether it’s the Jain principle of reverence for all life or the Christian call to care for the least among us.
The initiative has resonated deeply with animal welfare advocates and spiritual communities alike. The move has been praised on social media platforms like X, where users have hailed it as a step toward “true humane education” and a way to child empathy. One activist noted, “Bengal’s schools are teaching kids real empathy by caring for strays—vaccinating, feeding, and spaying/neutering. This reflects the vision of leaders like Maneka Gandhi, who see animals as part of creation deserving of respect.”
However, not all voices are in complete harmony. A teachers’ association leader has suggested that the government should also prioritize practical needs, such as increasing honorariums for midday meal workers and improving school infrastructure. Yet, the spiritual perspective sees no conflict—caring for animals and humans are two sides of the same coin, both rooted in the universal principle of love. By integrating stray dogs into the school ecosystem, West Bengal is showing that compassion can be a practical, daily practice, not an abstract ideal.
For students, this initiative is a chance to experience the joy of giving without expecting reward, a cornerstone of spiritual growth. As they witness the trust that grows between themselves and the dogs they feed, they learn that kindness creates ripples, transforming not just the lives of animals but their own hearts. In a world often marked by division, this simple act of feeding a stray dog becomes a profound spiritual practice, reminding us that all beings are interconnected in the tapestry of life.
As West Bengal’s schools embark on this journey, they offer a model for the world: a path where education nurtures not just the mind but the soul, fostering a generation that sees every creature as a reflection of the divine. May this initiative inspire others to embrace kindness as a way of life, honoring the sacred bond between humans and animals.
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