AMMA's Press Conference

[Guest guest]

namah Shivaya.

 

AMMA addressed a press conference at the ashram earlier today. Among

other things She has a promised a relief of Rupees 100 Crores (About

22 Million US Dollars.)

 

The text of the press release is given below. From this you would

observe that we as AMMA's children, we have a great responsibility in

fulfilling Her promises. With AMMA's grace we will rise to the

occasion.

 

I think it would be a good idea to circulate this press release to

publications with which each of us have contacts.

 

Ever in AMMA's service.

 

C R Vijayan

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

Amma dedicates hundred crores for reconstruction homes destroyed by

tsunami

 

Mata Amritanandamayi Math issues this press release with immense pain

and sorrow. The suffering caused by the recent Tsunami attack—which

claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in South East

Asia, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, and destroyed

all their belongings—is unfathomable. Indeed, it was an unexpected

blow to human intellect and logic.

 

This is not an occasion to compete or bargain. However, we cannot

turn a deaf ear to the heart-rending supplications of those who are

crying for help. Therefore, the Mata Amritanandamayi Math offers the

following proposal for the Kerala Government's consideration:

 

1) The Mata Amritanandamayi Math has decided to set aside Rs.

100 crores for the Tsunami Relief Work.

 

 

2) The Math proposes to reconstruct all the houses that have

been completely destroyed by the Tsunami attack across Kerala, if the

Government permits.

 

3) These houses will be built according to the specifications of

the Government. The Math proposes to build houses consisting of two

rooms, a kitchen, a small veranda and a toilet.

 

4) However, we request the Government to undertake the

renovation and maintenance work of houses that were only damaged.

 

5) The Math also proposes to build temporary shelters for those

people from Azhikkal, Srayikkad and Parayakadavu, who are presently

accommodated in various relief camps. We will build these shelters in

Srayikkad, where the Math owns more than 10 acres of land, either in

collaboration with the Government, or entrust the land to the

Government for building these shelters.

 

6) Nonetheless, we request that these charitable projects

proposed by the Math must not affect or stop any aid or privileges

promised by the State and Central governments to the victims.

 

The other relief activities undertaken by the Math are also given

below:

 

1) For each affected house, the Math will give Rs. 1,000 for

buying household items; a total of Rs. 1.5 crores has been set aside

for this purpose. All applications for funding must be made to the

Math before this Sunday.

 

2) The Math is prepared to provide free education to those

children who have lost both parents in the recent Tsunami attack. The

Math will also provide counselling for such children.

 

3) Besides the rehabilitation and reconstruction of houses in

Kerala, the Math is also planning to help Tsunami victims in Tamil

Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

 

 

>From the moment the Tsunami struck, hundreds of ashram residents and

devotees have been working 24 hours to serve the victims. About 370

families are being accommodated in the deemed university run by the

Math and in the Math's Ayurveda Medical College and Engineering

College. The Math is looking after the needs of the victims,

including their food, clothing and medical needs. In addition, the

Math is providing food and other necessities to thousands of victims

in Ochira, Karunagapally and other such camps.

 

To discuss remedial solutions to the damages caused by the Tsunami

attack, a meeting was held on Sunday, January 2nd, 2005, at 6:00 p.m.

in Amma's divine presence. The meeting was attended by the president

and members of the Alappad panchayat and representatives from the

following karayogams: Azhikkal North, Azhikkal South, Srayikkad,

Parayakadavu, Kuzhithura, Alappad, Cheriazhikkal, Pandarathuruttu and

Vellanathuruttu. They presented their problems before Amma. They also

expressed gratitude for Amma's and the Math's active presence during

the rehabilitation process. They also requested for the Math's help

in the future.

 

Amma is ever ready to help the deserving, irrespective of religion,

caste, nationality and language. In order to proceed with the

proposed reconstruction of coastal village houses that have been

totally destroyed by the Tsunami, we seek the permission of the

Kerala Government. The support of the local administration is also

very much necessary for this. However, for the successful

implementation and completion of this project we should also have a

formal request from political bodies such as the Dhivarsabha,

Matsyatozhilali Unions and Karayogams. Hope and pray that we will

get a positive response from the Government and other bodies.