Stranglehold - The strings that spare none

As per a TOI report published on June 12, 2017, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned the use of manja made of nylon, glass-coated thread or any non-biodegradable material as it causes harm to humans, animals and birds and the environment. Needless to say, this ban was not implemented seriously, as is the case with the plastic bags ban. The reason being, these manja threads harm more birds than they do humans. 

In many cultures, kite flying is a fun activity. Kite wars, the winners taking the broken kite as a token of appreciation, clamour and squabbles about who deserves the kite is a common phenomenon seen on festivals. More than a competition, kite flying is a group sentiment that is enjoyed by the community. Some participate, some cheer and some are spectators. Kite flying has been around for decades. What changed was the mass production of manja made of glass-coated thread. Because Chinese manja is cheaper and lighter in weight, it became the preferred option. 

This convenience came at a cost. Birds started to die or get severely injured by getting entangled in these threads.  BBMP as well as NGOs treating wildlife recorded a hike in cases of injuries caused due to manja. Birds are often rescued with ruptured wings or fractured legs.  The baby birds hardly survive the thread. The death of birds and sometimes mammals like macaques is horrifying. The images of the deceased look like the creature were mutilated. Even after repeatedly asking the government to implement the ban, nothing was done. 

The recent incident of Mallikarjuna KH getting injured because of a hanging manja thread has stirred the fight again. Mallikarjuna was driving by Adugodi when the thread got entangled around his neck. His throat was slit and he got five stitches, two on his fingers. Injuries due to Chinese manjha are not new. Stray cases of humans sustaining deadly injuries are reported but not much attention is paid. In another report published by The Hindu on November 5, 2019, a report of a child dying due to the manja and casualties increasing every festival has surfaced. Even though birds are more affected, we cannot deny the fact that humans have found themselves in the grasp of death due to the Chinese manja. Arresting people involved in the accidents or those producing and circulating the death thread has not helped curb the situation.

Suffered a Manja injury - A Black Kite prior treatment at PfA Wildlife Hospital

To make sure our voices reach the government, the wildlife conservation organisations of our city along with animal welfare activists have started a petition on Change.org. This time, we cannot let this go. This time, the revolution is inexorable. We have tolerated the painful cries of our animals and fellow humans for too long. To bring about a lasting impact, we need to change ourselves first. We need to stop using the Chinese manja and educate others on the same. With more people joining in the movement, we can achieve the goal of pressuring the government to impose the ban strictly. Help us spread the word so that we can save birds as well as human lives. Sign the petition and amplify!

Link - https://www.change.org/p/karnataka-pollution-board-stranglehold-stop-the-killing-enforce-the-manjha-ban?redirect=false 

Blog contributed by Ms Praanjali Shukla, Volunteer@ PfA Bangalore.