Nest Man: The One Who Gave Homes to Over 7 Lakh Sparrows!

Rakesh Khatri is known as the ‘Nest Man of India’. In the last 14 years, he has set up more than 7 lakh 30 thousand nests across various cities in India. His goal is to provide a home for sparrows and other birds so they can resettle in urban areas.

Beginning and Struggles
In 2008, when Rakesh started making nests, people mocked him. Many said, "Sparrows build their own nests, why would they use the ones you make?" But Rakesh remained dedicated to his mission. He installed his first nest in Mayur Vihar, Delhi. A few days later, a sparrow came and stayed in it. This gave him confidence, and he expanded his work further.

Why Are Sparrows Disappearing?
Due to mobile towers and the lack of trees in cities, the number of sparrows is continuously decreasing. According to a report, sparrow populations are declining rapidly in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. If this continues, sparrows may soon exist only in our memories.

Efforts Towards Nature Conservation
Rakesh is not just making nests but also protecting the environment. He has initiated a project called 'Jal Sparsh', where 2,000 women from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Haryana create nests using water hyacinth. This helps birds find shelter while also cleaning lakes by removing water hyacinth.

Involving Schools and Communities
Rakesh is also engaging children and youth in his mission. He has conducted nest-making workshops in over 7,000 schools, teaching children how to create safe homes for birds. Additionally, his initiative, 'Eco Roots Foundation', is providing employment opportunities to women.

Rakesh Khatri's Message
Rakesh says, "The greatest kindness in this world is to provide a home, and that is what I am doing." His efforts have given thousands of birds a home again, and this journey will continue.

(You can read the full article on thebetterindia.com.)