‘Catching, dumping of stray dogs is like death sentence to them’ | Lucknow News

Lucknow: Concern over issues related to stray dogs, new animal welfare rules, and the need for dignified last rites for the poor dominated the opening session, titled ‘Revolutionary Voices of Lucknow’, of the Koshala Literature Festival on Sunday.The session featured young social activists Versha Verma, Ruchi Kishore, Nilay Agarwal, and Harshit Singh, and was moderated by Aanchal Awasthi.The panel highlighted a range of grassroots issues, including nationwide blood donation coordination, education support for underprivileged children, and the growing debate on how Indian cities manage street dogs.Animal rights activist Ruchi Kishore criticised the increasing practice of catching and dumping stray dogs, calling it “a death sentence” for the animals. She urged people to adopt “one act of kindness every day” to rebuild compassion amid rapid urbanisation and shrinking natural spaces.Social activist Versha Verma recounted her experiences during the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, when she provided free transport for bodies and helped families perform last rites. She ensured dignified cremations for over 8,000 unclaimed bodies. Reflecting on what shaped her path, she said, “At 14, I saw bodies taken away without extending dignity in death. When no one came forward, I began performing last rites myself — that’s how my journey started.”