At a time when the country is in the grip of a severe heat wave, with people trying to beat the heat by confining themselves indoors with fans, ACs and chilled drinks, the untold suffering of the voiceless animals is hard to imagine. They too need respite from the scorching sun, they too need water to quench their thirst, and the heartening thing is, there are many bureaucrats who have taken up their cause. Be it Ms. Geethanjali K, a 2005-batch IFS officer posted in Chennai, or Ms. Asmita Lal, former CDO, Ghaziabad, UP, Mr. Ashish Modi, Collector in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, or Mr. Ankit Khandelwal, CDO, Aligarh, UP, they all have one thing in common: they have made arrangement for water and food for helpless animals and birds at their respective levels. Indian Masterminds takes a look at their commendable work.
IFS OFFICER GEETHANJALI K
Speaking to Indian Masterminds, Indian Forest Service officer Geethanjali K said that an NGO is helping out in taking care of the birds and animals in this scorching summer. “An NGO named Vetry organised 500 cement water pots to be placed in various locations around Tiruppur city. We had also helped them to plant around 10 lakhs of saplings that have grown into trees in Tiruppur district and birds can rest in them and animals can find shade under them. The same NGO is now placing water pots wherever possible.It is indeed a very good cause,and we always support good causes.”
She added that enabling availability of water for animals and birds in this scorching summer is a wonderful service to nature and all should think about it, as birds and animals badly need water to survive the cruel summers.
IAS OFFICER ASMITA LAL
2015-batch IAS officer Asmita Lal, who is now posted as ACEO in the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA), was posted as CDO Ghaziabad weeks before. There, she had led a campaign for birds and animals.She had ensured different arrangements for the helpless animals and birds to drink water from. Big and small water bowls were installed in different places for them. These bowls were provided free of cost by the district administration to people who wanted to help out. They could collect these bowls from Vikas Bhavan and set them up in their area.
Ms. Asmita Lal says, “Arranging water for animals and birds in this scorching heat is an exemplary work and everyone should participate in this. In this season, animals and birds roam here and there in search of water. But, under this campaign, the availability of water in every area is ensured through public cooperation.”
She also said that if anybody wants to be a part of this campaign, they can contact in these numbers – 7982636411 (Stenographer Sachin Kumar), 9897683298 (CVO Dr. Mahesh Kumar) and 0120-2820605 (Vikas Bhavan).
IAS OFFICER ASHISH MODI
Collector of Bhilwara, Rajasthan, Mr. Ashish Modi has started the Parinda programme with the help of People for Animals organization, whereby pots are placed at strategic places for birds for food and water. The 2014-batch IAS officer said that the innocent birds should not face any problem of food and water during the summer season because of environmental change. While distributing the pots, he also appealed to the public to make arrangements for grain and water in them at all times, so that the campaign becomes successful.
IAS OFFICER ANKIT KHANDELWAL
CDO of Aligarh district in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Ankit Khandelwal has also taken a similar initiative for animals and birds involving government employees and voluntary organisations. Earthen pots are being distributed to people to keep grains and water.
Mr. Khandelwal said, “In this scorching heat, along with the common man, animals and birds are also troubled. In such a situation, it is the responsibility of every person to have compassion for the birds and animals and arrange food and water for them. The water and grains can be kept for birds on the roof of the house or in open places, so that their lives can be saved. The officers and employees belonging to all government departments of the district are being involved in this campaign to keep such earthen pots in their homes and in offices. And, to connect the common man to this campaign, we are distributing clay pots to them.”
