Rescued cattle in a safe enclosure at Jivdaya Dham, managed by Shri Jivkalyan Panjarapole Trust in Godhra.
Shri Jivkalyan Panjarapole Trust announced a major milestone in its animal welfare mission – the Godhra shelter is now home to over 1,000 rescued cattle living safely and peacefully. Over the past few years, the trust’s team has saved hundreds of cows, bulls, and calves from illegal slaughterhouses and abandonment. “In the last one year alone, we saved more than 600 animals and brought them to our panjarapole,” said the trust’s managing trustee, highlighting the dramatic impact of their rescue operations. Each rescue involves cooperation with local police and volunteers to intercept animals being transported for illicit butchery, a rampant issue given the 75+ illegal slaughterhouses once operating in the Godhra area.
The exponential increase in the shelter’s bovine population – from just a few hundred to a thousand – has created urgent needs for more space and resources. The trust has expanded the facility from a single acre to about 3.5 acres to accommodate the animals, investing roughly ₹61 lakh in new sheds and infrastructure. Monthly expenses run high (about ₹7–8 lakh) for fodder, water, and medical care. The trust has appealed to the community and philanthropists for support, as donations are needed to sustain operations. “Without your help, this noble work cannot continue at the scale required,” a public letter from the trust stated, expressing gratitude to existing donors. Local Jain temples and civic groups have begun mobilizing funds and feed supplies. The trust’s volunteers remain determined: seeing formerly abused animals now living without fear has been a powerful motivator for the Godhra community to rally around the panjarapole, keeping the flame of “jivdaya” alive.