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But I have also heard from many sources that the management of some of the panjrapoles is not what it should be. In some places, the whole atmosphere is unconducive to the welfare of animals, and instead of reducing the suffering, the animals actually suffer more. I am told there are many factors that contribute to this situation, including the following:
a) People establish these pinjrapoles out of compassion but they don't understand or have the expertise to manage and provide proper and timely care to birds and animals. Just opening the pinjrapole is not enough. Their proper management is just as much or even more important so that the animals are actually and properly cared for and not allowed to suffer.
b) In order to save money, the management will hire a few inexperienced persons on very low wages. Often, these untrained, low-wage workers will then steal money meant for the food and water supplies for animals. Hence, the animals end up suffering for lack of enough food and water. The pinjrapole management gets what they pay for. c) Generally, there are no proper and adequate arrangements in these panjrapoles for trained veterinary medical care, veterinary doctors, proper medicines, or proper storage of medicines. If there are any medicines, generally these are out of date and unfit for use. In many cases, there are not even basic first-aid kits available and even then the caretaker is not interested in applying or lacks skills in applying and administering proper care.
d) I have heard from reliable sources, including from Mrs. Maneka Gandhi (the Cabinet Minister in Narendra Modi Cabinet), that in some panjrapoles, the conditions are so bad that even the injured animals are not treated or given any medical aid on the pretext by some Jains "let the animal suffer for its own past karmas". They ask: why should Jains become an obstacle in that process of nirjara (shedding of karmas). If this is true, then that
An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide
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