‘It killed us to think they are out in the open’
Singer Mohit Chauhan has set up 120 bori beds for stray dogs in Delhi to help them get some respite from harsh winters
Most people in Delhi have been staying inside because of the cold weather, but singer-songwriter Mohit Chauhan has ventured out to make sure that stray animals have a warm place to sleep.
“It killed us to think that they are out in the open without any protection,” says Chauhan, who, along with his NGO, Animals are People Too, has placed around 120 bori bags in Delhi’s Jahanpanah City Forest for stray animals living in the area to sleep on.
Chauhan says that his team looked for sturdier and longer-lasting options, that is, bori beds, this year. Talking about the same, he says, “Jute bags, which are used for transporting rice, seemed like a better option. So we got them filled with cotton. These days, you can also get them filled with parali, which can be warmer. The boris are harder to tear, so they last longer.”
The singer has been actively involved in taking care of animals in Delhi since the pandemic. “My mission with this work has been to be able to inspire people to do their bit in looking after community animals around them, and I must say that it’s been quite successful. People write in from all over the country to tell me how they’ve started caring about the animals around them and that’s heartening to hear,” he elaborates.
The sense of responsibility that comes with taking care of the voiceless, Chauhan believes, stems from his desire to continue to live in better and cleaner surroundings.
“We share this planet with them and need to be kind to them and take care of them. We must reduce our use of plastic, which harms the environment because so much of it ends up in the oceans, killing sea life. So, we must act responsibly and care for all creatures around us,” he shares.
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