In the ancient city of Patan, where the intricate silk threads of Patola weave stories of a glorious past and the stepwells of Rani ki Vav stand as testament to a civilization’s brilliance, a 47-year-old Lions club is writing a quieter but equally purposeful chapter.
Patan Lions Club, District 3232-B1, has made Jiv Daya — compassion toward every living being — the heart of its current work. Over the past two years, the club has built 14 bird houses and 12 chabutras, permanent feeding and shelter structures designed to protect birds through the fierce heat of Gujarat’s summers. Each structure costs approximately ₹3 lakhs to build. To date, the club has invested ₹39 lakhs in the initiative.
Initiated by Club President Nikul Modi last year, the project saw the construction of one bird house and 12 chabutras at a cost of ₹26 lakhs. This year, 13 more structures were added. “Our club’s aim is to reach out to every living being. Birds and animals are equal priorities,” he said.
The response from the community has been steady and encouraging. “I am surprised at the support we receive in the form of donations for this project,” says Project Chairperson Manoj Patel. “It shows how compassionate our Lions are.”
The Jiv Daya initiative is a natural extension of a long-held belief: that service has no boundaries, and compassion no exceptions. A belief that has found expression in many projects and programs over the last 47 years: a physiotherapy centre, a community hall, a library for jail inmates, a water parab, a Lions Circle in the heart of the city, and a ₹10 lakh blood testing machine gifted to Dharpur Medical Hospital.
With Jiv Daya, the circle of care simply grew wider — to provide shelter to birds on the wing.