The members of the Jain Community from Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, purchased 250 goats ahead of the Islamic festival of Eid-ul-Azha, popularly known as Bakrid, celebrated on June 29. The Jain delivered them to a ‘bakrashala’, which is a shelter specifically designed for goats.
The NGO, ‘Jeev Daya Sansthan,’ made the purchase of these goats. They bought the goats in Ghazipur, Seelampur, and the Jama Masjid area of Delhi to prevent them from being sacrificed. The goats purchased on June 28 had red threads wrapped around their necks.
This NGO was established in 2016 by the members of the Jain community in Aminagar Sarai, Baghpat district, to save goats. The refuge is built on Lord Mahavir’s ‘live and let live’ ethos. Currently, the shelter is taking care of around 500 goats.
The President of Jeev Daya Sansthan Manoj Jain said that Jain Muni (monk) Rajendra Muni Maharaj safeguard the life of animals. As a result, he and a few like-minded individuals established the Jeev Daya Sansthan and registered it in Delhi. He added, “Our Jain saints inspired us to form the goat shelter seven years ago. The goats were bought for Rs 10,000 to Rs 18,000, and around Rs 12,000 is spent on them monthly for their food and medicines”.
Most NGO members belong to the Baghpat area. The members collectively purchased 1,000 square metres of land in the district’s Aminagar Sarai town to establish the animal shelter. According to Manoj Jain, this is the only Bakrashala in western Uttar Pradesh. He stated that the NGO had already purchased 5,000 square metres of land for expansion.
The NGO members pool their financial resources to purchase goats from various markets ahead of Eid. Manoj Jain states that members of the Jain community, as well as members of other communities, are involved in their continuous campaign of saving goats. He added, “We are not only confined to saving goats but also protect lives of other animals” and claimed that the NGO has rescued the lives of many pigeons, fish, and snakes.
Another community member, Dinesh Jain, said, “Initially, the shelter housed only 40-45 goats, but with the support of generous donors, the number has now grown to around 500”.
He emphasised the attentive care provided to the goats at the shelter, highlighting that doctors on a regular basis assess their diet, water, fodder, and medical needs. He further stated that similar shelters operate in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh, and there are plans to build a 45-story tower, particularly for birds.
He added that the new goat shelter is 5,000 square feet in size and prioritises cleanliness to provide a safe and comfortable habitat for the animals.
Every year on Eid-al-Adha, also known as Bakrid, millions of animals, primarily goats but cows, lambs, buffalos, and camels, are slaughtered worldwide. According to some estimates, more than 10 million animals are butchered around the world on the day of Bakrid.
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