R.A.K.S.H.A. (Revolutionaries Action Conservation Society For Helping Animals) is a youth based activist Group/association founded by Mr. Rohit Gangwal in 2002 to work for animal rights and welfare of animals . R.A.K.S.H.A. protects and speaks for all animals from abuse, beating , ill-treatment , captivity of birds , over-loading and against any cruelty . The two main objectives which R.A.K.S.H.A. strives to achieve is a federation of all the organizations working for the cause of animals and secondly is educational awareness because it is the most important thing because the habit of looking , loving animals and conserving habitat needs to be instilled in to the young , if animals and humans who are dependent on them are to survive at all . As there are many organizations working differently in different places throughout India but only their (Federation)togetherness would bring a little difference and this difference would become a revolution in the field of animal welfare .

The main projects which we strive to achieve or persevere:
Promote Vegetarianism
24 Hour Snake Helpline
Promote adoption of Indian dogs
Educational Awareness – Schools , Colleges and villages
Promote Plantation (Keep City Green)
Raids On Charmers , Circuses , Caged Birds:
Curb Global Warming:
Stop the Illegal trade in Caged Birds:
Developing bird watching as a hobby:
Amicable Human-Animal Conflict solution:

Our annual events include:
Free Bird Treatment Camp(during makar-sakranti):
Educational Trip to Bharatpur:
Stall at Birding Fair:
Educational Nature / Bird Watching trails for students:

R.A. K.S.H.A.’s slogans :
`~Lets Stop Tiger Poaching~`
`~Lets Shut those Butcher Shops~`
`~Lets Free those Birds~`
`~Lets not wear others Skin~`
`~Lets plant more Trees~`
`~Lets heal the WORLD~`
`~Lets pay back to the Mother Nature~`
`~Lets be ' HUMANS' ~`
Lets be R.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N.A.R.I.E.S !

A small description About the working of our projects:

Promote Vegetarianism: R.A.K.S.H.A.’s major objective is promoting vegetarianism and urging people ban the use of leather. 2008 proved to be a major success for us to achieve the goals. We were able to turn thousands of people into proud-vegetarians adopting cruelty-free diet and living a compassionate lifestyle. The major weapons helping us were our stalls at public events, educational awareness programmes, participation in mahaveer jayanti rally, Stall at Birding Fair, new year resolution rally, where more than 1,000 people took the oath of becoming vegetarian and ban the use of leather. Pamphlets, brochures, leaflets containing information on vegetarianism and ban the use of leather were distributed among students and others at all our events.

24 Hour Snake Helpline: Under the one of a kind 24 Hour Snake Helpline, R.A.K.S.H.A. rescues, translocates and rehabilitates reptiles particularly Snakes from residential colonies, suburbs etc. After a rescue from an area R.A.K.S.H.A. volunteers educate the people and make them aware of these rare reptiles, their habits, their important role in the eco-system, as friends of farmers, how to differentiate between poisonous and non-poisonous species of snakes. In the year 2008-09 R.A.K.S.H.A. was able to rescue and save over 100 Snakes, 6 Monitor Lizards and other reptiles. All the animals were released immediately into wild life protected areas and some were spot released at the captured site after convincing the locals. We are keeping an eye on snake population getting affected due to snake charmers, rats’ role in the eco system and similar allied aspects.

Educational Awareness – Schools , Colleges and villages: One of our major programmes is Educational Awareness in schools, colleges and villlages, it being the most important element because the habit of looking, loving animals and conserving habitat needs to be instilled in the young, if animals and humans who are dependent on them are to survive at all. Last year we formed three Eco-Clubs, two in schools and one in college. Main components of programmes have been developing a compassion in the minds of students, making them aware of the nature, need of conserving wildlife, knowing the legislation related to Animal rights, importance of plantation, non-usage of leather, importance of vegetarianism, Importance of Bird and Reptile Conservation, help curb global warming, how crueties on animals can be stopped to a limit by a change in our day-to-day activities.

CD’s and Slideshows on the production of meat and leather and cruelty – killing, suffering, brutalities etc faced by innocent animals are shown to students to let them realise what-to-do while seeing animals suffering? So that students can learn how to take instant action, and follow it up. We provided them with important contact telephone numbers of key Government Departments and their officers so that they can report there. As part of education and public awareness campaign, stalls were put at major events, educating the city people about the importance of vegetarianism and animal rights. We could have taken more colleges and schools but did not have adequate financial support to do so : this NGO being run on small local donations and membership fees.

Promote adoption of Indian dogs : R.A.K.S.H.A. has a novel campaign. Why should people pelt stones at dogs and consider them stray. Please don’t, they have a life, don’t they feel pain, do they not have a right to live like we do???In the year 2008-09 R.A.K.S.H.A.. was able to home and vaccinate 21 stray dogs through project Adoption of Indian Dog. Stray Dogs are stronger, sturdier and they are more immune to contagious diseases. Also recent studies show stray dogs are more adaptable and affectionate to their owners. Are these reasons not enough to adopt a stray than an international breed which is not suited to the local climate? Let’s Adopt A Stray!

Promote Plantation (Keep City Green): We have been going selfish and also blind in our run of getting ……………….??? Global Warming is the question of the hour and it seems we have no answer to it. Our mean endeavors are leading our mother nature towards rapid destruction. Temperatures are on rise……. Climate cycle has changed……....Water levels have dropped……………..….Soil erosion is on increase……….…Droughts are recurring…. Floods….Cyclones……Tsunami’s, Katrina are whipping the coastal areas……These are ‘human’ gifts and seem as though the future generation will have more of these hazards in store for them.

Team R.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N.A.R.I.E.S planted 380 trees during the year. About 150 of our volunteers planted a tree each outside their houses and 230 trees were planted in school grounds and two city parks. R.A.K.S.H.A. plans to take Project Green Life to higher levels in the coming year. Also the plantation done so far are of broad leaved species and fruit bearing species which also provide habitat and feed for local and migrant bird species. Also we have a post monitoring team whose works start once the plantation is done.

Raids On Charmer’s , Circuses , Caged Birds: Under this project Raksha team conducts raids on snake, monkey charmer’s or any other illegal activity done on or with the animals.

Curb Global Warming

Stop the Illegal trade in Caged Birds

Developing bird watching as a hobby

Amicable Human-Animal Conflict solution: under this project we personally visit the place where the wild animal is regularly spotted and if it posing a threat to their children, cattle etc.. We suggest certain measures suitable both for the residing human and the resident wild animal. This year the problem has become more acute as there was lot of encroachment of land for commerce, development etc.

Snake helpline number: 98285 00065
24 Hour BirdHelpline: we plan to start a 24hour bird helpline in jaipur city but it is very difficult as of now because of limited funds.
For more info, contact rakshajaipur@yahoo.in