For 12 Years, Chandigarh Man Has Run a Distinctive ‘Hen Ambulance on Wheels’

On one darkish night time in 2011, a sweeper was cleansing the streets close to the military attachment camp in Punjab’s Ferozepur metropolis. 

Manjit Singh, a former drawing trainer, had introduced 50 kids together with a non-profit organisation from Chandigarh to the camp to indicate them how the Indian Military features. On stepping out for dinner, he observed one thing unusual amongst all of the waste that the sweeper had collected. 

Going a bit of nearer to the bin, he realised that it was a useless pigeon!

“I requested the sweeper why she was throwing the physique in a dustbin. I even inquired the way it died. She knowledgeable me that the hen received electrocuted. Equally, one other had died close by too,” he tells The Higher India.

For the subsequent 4 days on the camp, the 54-year-old couldn’t neglect the incident. He contemplated on discovering an answer that might be helpful for each the birds, and people.

Coming again house to Chandigarh, the environmental activist set out on a mission to present a protected burial to useless birds and deal with the injured. “Often, these useless birds are transported to greater dustbins in a depressing situation. Additionally, there are possibilities that their decaying our bodies may unfold ailments and threaten human and environmental well being alike,” he provides.

Moved deeply by this incident, Manjit transformed his bicycle right into a ‘hen ambulance’. With this, he has handled 1,160 birds thus far. He even ensures that birds who die are given a correct burial, totalling to 1,280 avians like pigeons, crows, parrots, and turtle doves in Chandigarh.

Refused Financial institution Job for Surroundings

A BA dropout, Manjit initially labored as a drawing trainer in a personal college. By means of the college, he got here involved with the identical native NGO that motivated him to do social work. Then, to do his bit to cut back the rising air air pollution, Manjit switched to driving a bicycle in 1990 on the age of 21.

In 1999, after his marriage, Manjit give up his job on the college to dedicate himself solely to the surroundings. As a facet hustle, he labored as a painter, however his in-laws have been involved. They, nevertheless, managed to get him a job provide as a financial institution clerk.

“The job provided me triple the earnings from what I used to be incomes. However I needed to refuse it. I didn’t wish to get trapped in an everyday job in a company world the place I must compromise on my mission,” he says.

He recounts how his resolution would typically result in arguments between him and his spouse as she additionally anxious about his well being because of fixed publicity to possible avian ailments. “However when she noticed how actually devoted I used to be to my trigger and the way a lot social acceptance I acquired with it, she ultimately got here on board,” says Manjit.

Manjit, who’s also referred to as Prince Mehra, continued to unfold consciousness about air air pollution until 2011 earlier than his go to to the Ferozepur military camp. 

After coming again to Chandigarh, he printed out some pamphlets requesting residents of Chandigarh to contact him in the event that they spot an injured or useless hen.

By then, he had remodeled his bicycle right into a hen ambulance. “Quickly after, individuals began contacting me and reporting the useless or injured birds of their localities. I used to be so pleased to see individuals approaching me. And after I was capable of free an injured pigeon and deal with it for the primary time, I used to be so happy,” he says.

Together with a way of contentment, Manjit began getting recognition for his work. In 2015, his title was additionally listed within the Limca Ebook of Information for saving hundreds of birds in Chandigarh. The identical yr, he was additionally awarded by the Chandigarh authorities on the event of Republic Day. 

What’s extra, even the locals began referring to him because the ‘hen man’!

“On this work, I get job satisfaction in addition to recognition. I’m actually very content material with it. My kids take delight in my work when their colleges invite me as a chief visitor, and when their friends recognize my work circulated within the media,” he provides.

‘Seva over enterprise’

In 2016, Manjit was provided a job as an animal attendant by the animal husbandry division of Chandigarh. “I discovered this job very helpful as I used to be capable of serve my trigger and likewise earn some earnings,” he says.

As a part of his every day schedule, regardless of workplace hours, he units out on a rescue mission between 3-11 pm. 

“Native individuals name to tell me about injured or useless birds. Often, these harmless birds get wounded by sharp kite strings or from followers in outlets. In summer time, exhausted birds fall from the sky or collide with high-tension wires,” he informs.

Inside 15-Half-hour, relying on the gap he can cowl on his bicycle, Manjit rescues these birds. He carries all the mandatory tools and medicines together with him. This features a small spade, Negasunt powder (an antibacterial used for dressing wounds), Hen Plus syrup, and a pair of scissors to free birds from tangled wires.

“If the hen is useless, I dig a 1.5 ft gap and bury it in an open floor within the metropolis. If the hen requires stitches or is essential, I take it to the hospital for therapy. If there’s a minor harm, I take them to my home the place I feed them and after they get properly, I set them free in 2-5 days,” he provides.

To help his work, a financial institution donated a battery-operated bike to Manjit in 2012. “They have been giving me a scooter as I journey all through the day. However I refused it as a result of I didn’t wish to weaken my mission to cut back air air pollution simply because I used to be getting a free scooter,” he says. 

“The battery-powered bike helps me attain the injured birds quick. If the hen is already useless, I then use my standard bicycle to achieve the place and bury it,” he provides.

Recalling a busy day, Manjit says, “Final yr, a storm hit the town and several other timber fell within the night time. These timber have been house to quite a few parrots. I acquired a name at 6am to gather 250 useless parrots and 80 pigeons. All in in the future. The 2 baskets connected to my bicycle have been full,” he recollects.

“Lately, I rescued 5 parrots whose toes have been broken. I saved them on therapy in my home for 2 months earlier than they received higher and will fly off. At present, I’ve two pigeons and one ghuggi (turtle dove) at my house,” he provides.

For this work, Manjit retains apart 20 p.c of his wage. “Many individuals have provided a payment for this work, I request them to as an alternative pay me in type and supply hen feed like bajra (pearl millet) for the injured birds. If I begin asking cash for it, it gained’t be sewa (service), it’s going to turn into a enterprise,” he says.

“Generally useless birds are caught to the highway, and folks cowl their noses with a fabric, however I’ve to select them in order that they’re buried safely. Initially, my household opposed my resolution because of this very purpose,” he explains. 

“Par woh jeena kya jeena jo apne liye jiyein (There’s no level in life if it isn’t devoted to service for others). I contemplate these birds like my kids. Their lives are equally vital as anybody else’s. Their lives may be saved with simply small efforts,” he provides, earlier than biking away to save lots of one other harmless life.

Edited by Padmashree Pande. All photographs: Manjit Singh.