Ahead of Makar Sankranti, Gujarat intensifies crackdown on banned “Chinese manja” as bird injuries soar

Alokparna Sengupta, Managing Director of Humane Society International/India (HSI/India), warned, “This blatant disregard for the law turns a joyous festival into a death trap for birds, animals, and humans. It jeopardizes public safety and highlights the need for stricter enforcement.”Beyond harming animals, synthetic manja poses a serious environmental crisis. Non-biodegradable, it lingers in the environment for years, contributing to persistent pollution.The Gujarat government kicked off the 10th edition of its Karuna Abhiyan on Thursday, aimed at rescuing birds injured by kite strings during Uttarayan. Starting January 10, the initiative seeks to reduce the rising toll of bird injuries each year.Minister of Forest & Environment and Climate Change, Mulu Bera, highlighted the success of Gujarat’s ongoing efforts, saying, “In the last 8 years, over 25,000 animals and birds have been rescued, with 600 veterinary doctors and more than 8,000 voluntary organizations involved. We have been running the compassion campaign since 2015.”He further announced, “This year’s campaign, from January 10 to 20, will focus on rescuing birds injured by kite strings, with a 92% success rate in saving them. A special helpline has also been launched by the forest department.” Bera urged citizens, “We appeal to the public not to fly kites during the evening hours of Uttarayan, as this is when birds migrate.”



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