A care home for sick, injured birds
Parveen Arora
“All living things love their life, desire pleasure and do not like pain; they dislike any injury to themselves; everybody is desirous of life and to every being, his life is very dear”. Yogashastra — Jain scripture
In the true spirit of Lord Mahavira’s teachings of compassion towards all living beings, Jeevo Mangalam, a charitable organisation, has been working for the wellness of injured and sick birds at its building at Sector 6 in Karnal city since 2002. It has emerged as an abode of such birds and has till date saved the lives of thousands of them. It is being run by Sadhvi Shri Jagdishmati Ji Charitable Trust and Jain sadhvis operate it and take care of every bird.
At present, more than 350 birds, including pigeons, crows, parrots, and love birds, are being given treatment and shelter here. Some of them are paralytic and the sadhvis give extra care to them.
The noble work started at a small level has now grown into a vast charitable institute. Sadhvi Santosh Kumari and Sadhvi Pridhi Kumari nurse birds and treat them as part of their lives.
Sadhvi Santosh Kumari says, “Birds are wonderful living beings. God resides in them too. Birds enhance the beauty of the nature. People should realise the pain the birds suffer”.
She says seven to eight injured and paralytic birds are brought to them every day, and the number swells to around 30 birds every day during Basant and Diwali.
“The glass-coated string of kites is a major threat to birds. It acts like a knife. The bigger the bird, the more are the chances of it getting a bigger wound. Sometime, the entire wing comes off and then the bird is never able to fly again,” she says.
Birds receive 3 to 4 inch deep cuts and wounds on their necks due to sharp strings of kites during Basant Panchami, while crackers pose a threat to their lives during Diwali. Crackers affect their vision also, she adds.
Mostly birds with wounds, bleeding, limping, breathing trouble, inability to stand, trouble in upholding the head, lethargic, seemingly unable to see or react to stimuli, being thin, missing hair and fur, drooling and other problems are brought to the trust.
“We try our best to save injured birds. We have appointed a doctor who regularly visits the trust building in Sector 6 to check the health of these birds. We are also regularly providing feeds to these birds,” she says.
Vimal Jain, president of the trust, says they have planned a bird health education centre at Sector 32 in Karnal. They have applied for a plot there. “If all goes according to the plan, soon there will be a hospital for birds, a school for needy students and an old age home,” he adds.
They want people to take measures to prevent injuries to birds. He says people can help the mission and can contact them at 0184-2286962 for help in treating injured birds.
