Saturday, 19 June 2021 | PNS | Kotdwar
Sushma Jakhmola, founder and president of Akriti Seva Samiti a Kotdwar based NGO for animal welfare has saved the lives of numerous animals and also ensured that stray animals don’t go hungry during the Covid pandemic. The organisation works to enhance the lives of stray animals through nourishment and medical care.
The body has rescued strays like dogs, cats, cows and donkeys so far and also provides them with medical treatment. In the organisation’s shelter home she has sheltered more than 400 animals and sometimes this number goes up to 600.
This NGO continues rescuing and feeding stray animals amidst the Covid curfew as this left many stray animals in a challenging state. Jakhmola recalls feeding hundreds of animals when the lockdown was first imposed. “I started feeding them since the first lockdown in 2020. If the stray animals are not fed for a long period they will die of starvation. We ensure to feed as many stray animals as possible and through our feeding drive we have been able to feed hundreds of animals. Despite various obstacles during the lockdown we tried our best to provide aid to those animals which needed our help.”
The NGO has been bearing the expenses on its own. “People come forward when they realise that the animals need us and provide a helping hand for the strays. Animal husbandry department and animal welfare board assisted us to provide food to all stray animals around the city. The police Circle Officer (CO) and his team also helped and supported us,” she added.
The NGO was started with the objective of rescuing and feeding the animals. Jakhmola said, “Our main focus is to give them shelter and provide them with medical treatment. Some animals suffered accidents but with proper medication, support and care they found ways to survive in the present condition.”
