JAMMU: Former Minister and President Dogra Sadar Sabha, Gulchain Singh Charak launched Save the Birds programme from Dogra Sadar Sabha Bhawan, here on Tuesday.
Charak flagged off the procession of the participants along with the officials of the Wild Life Protection Department, J and K headed by Suresh Sharma, Wild Life Warden, Jammu.
While handing over 1000 earthen pots to the villagers and college/school students, Charak emphasised the need to save the birds.
“Birds and wild animals play very important role in the ecology of the area to maintain balance,” he said and exhorted them to carry out the programme faithfully in whole of the summer season.
“It will go a long way to create awareness about the causes leading to water shortage and climate change and what should we do to avoid such catastrophes,” he added.
Addressing the gathering, Suresh assured the department’s full cooperation for this noble cause in future also.
Hundreds of enthusiastic young men who had come from the rural area stretching from Ravi to Kalidhar and the students of various schools and colleges of the city and surrounding area collected the pots to be carried to different locations from where they will further take them to be placed on the trees and near their houses, gardens and common places etc.
Throwing the light on the importance for organising Saving the Birds Day, Gambhir Dev Singh said that the Sabha had taken this decision about six years back when all the ponds had gone dry and birds were dying of thrust.
He appealed to the student community and the incharges of schools and colleges to be part of this movement.
While briefing the representatives of the Numberdars/Chowkidars Association, ex-servicemen, members of the Dogra Sadar Sabha and students of various educational institutions, Gulchain Singh Charak appealed to them to have similar pots placed in their homes for birds and carry this massage further to other students to contribute whole heartedly.
He also appealed to all the people to keep water outside their houses for the birds regularly.
While thanking the participants, Charak asked them to take this message to every nook and corner of the region and make it a movement in their areas.
The students of colleges and schools participated in hanging the earthen pots for birds in Maharaja Hari Singh Janana Park, Jambu Lochan Park and other important places where all the concerned agencies maintaining the above mentioned places were asked to make proper arrangements to fill these pots with water regularly every day in summer months.
Schools and colleges which participated in the procession include Dogra Law College, Dogra College of Education, Bari Brarhmana, Care College, Jammu, Dogra Hr. Sec. School, Shastri Nagar, Rich Harvest School, Shastri Nagar, Jammu, Humanity Public School, Bari Brahmana, Sun Rise Hr. Sec. School, Sikanderpur and New Era Mother High School, Nanak Nagar besides many other schools.
Other prominent persons among the members who participated in the programme were Dr. N.K Dogra Vice President, Prem Sagar Gupta (General Secretary) S. Kulbir Singh, Brig. (Retd.) M.S Jamwal, Santosh Magotra, Ghani Sham Singh, Dr. S.K Digra, Babu Sat Pal, Rajesh Pal Singh, Chhankar Singh, Kuljeet Singh, Janak Raj Gorka representatives of DADAA- Uttam Singh, Madan Rangila, Janak Raj Khajuria and Sandeshvir Sharma.