Chirping birds greet you as you make your way into the charitable hospital located in the bylanes of Jacobpura near Sadar Bazar.
A rare sight to find in the concrete jungles, around 200 birds, including some rare species, are undergoing treatment under the care of retired bank official Naresh Jain. Along with 12 more people, Jain funds and manages the bird hospital.
Residents of the Millennium City are also coming forward to contribute and support the cause of providing proper medical care to the feathered friends. A team of three doctors are available round-the-clock on the premises to tend to the birds.
Jain said, "When I was working, I used to feel bad about injured birds not getting proper treatment. So I decided to open a hospital as that was the best possible way to help them."
He added that while birds, especially meat eating ones such as pigeons, eagles and owls, are allowed to fly after treatment, they sometimes keep the rare birds.
"Hanging electricity wires is a common sight on roads and residential areas and these are proving fatal for birds. The string used to fly kites is also endangering their lives," he said.
Jain added that donations by residents help in sustaining the initiative. "We accept whatever a resident can contribute beginning from Rs 10. We manage to get another Rs 18,000-20,000 as donation. Other than this, we 13 members pay the extra cost required for treatment and food."
{{/usCountry}}Jain added that donations by residents help in sustaining the initiative. "We accept whatever a resident can contribute beginning from Rs 10. We manage to get another Rs 18,000-20,000 as donation. Other than this, we 13 members pay the extra cost required for treatment and food."
{{/usCountry}}