Lighthouse

Author(s): Udayvallabhvijay
Publisher: Pragna Prabodh Parivar

Page 62

have been done in past, are being done in present and will continue to be done in future. The only object of such philanthropic activities is that a person born into human specie and in Jain Dharma should not let the life go waste. Even for observing Dharma the heart and mind need to be healthy and free from worries. All efforts are made to achieve this.
The canvass of the followers of Jain religion extends from God to human beings and further up to the dumb creature. Hundreds of Panjrapoles managed and funded by Jains exist in almost all villages. Thousands of disabled animals are taken care of in panjrapoles with collective spending of crores of rupees every day and for years together. When a natural calamity strikes, relief funds of crores of rupees are collected in Jain Sanghas and Jain youth and volunteers engage themselves in relief activities for days together and extend assistance without discrimination based on caste, religion etc. This writer, as a child, was a personal witness to the relief activities in the aftermath of the calamity of bursting of Machu Dam of Morbi in Gujarat which was a major disaster. Thereafter also, in the unfortunate events of earthquakes, floods and devastating droughts, as also financial depressions; I have seen that Jains have stood steadfastly on all occasions to provide succor to the needy. Such activity is hardly witnessed elsewhere. At times of calamities newspapers also launch relief funds and I have seen the long list of donors to the Mumbai
<Lighthouse
53