Mumbai - A Noble Seva

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram.

I am forwarding herewith a mail received from Sri Cchandrashekar from Mumbai. I feel very happy to know of his efforts in intiating such a noble seva!!!,

 

With Love & Regards,

Bombay Srinivasan

 

 

----- Forwarded Message ----R chandrasekar <rr_chandrasekar@ rediffmail. com>bombaysrinivasan200 1. inWed, November 11, 2009 8:48:14 AMRe: [saiGroup-BombaySri nivasan] “MUMBAI†- A NOBLE SEVASairam SirThanks for writing about the cancer Seva being done by us.My name is Chandrashekar. It was started by us in Chembur about two years ago. I read a news item years back saying that there are many poor cancer patients languishing on the footpath opp Tata memorial hospital Parel. It remained at the back of my mind that some day I have to make a detailed study of this.Much later as the urge to see them became more, during the 82nd Birthday Celebrations of Swami we set out to discover the truth behind this. I took a medical doctor with me and started to survey the footpath by meeting each and every patient and found to my shock that these are the poorest of the lot as they have no money even to pay Rs.10 per day per person in the Dharamshalas meant for cancer patients. These are patients mostly from North India and belong to good families. But due to devastating expenses that wipe out all wealth in pursuing cancer treatment for the near and dear they are reduced to this plight.During the survey we found that there is help coming to them in spurts from good samaritans. But that is not regular. Only every morning some Jain sanstha gives breakfast. Many go hungry during nights with the cancer kids and old patients. Immediately we decided to start on Thursdays atleast giving food packets for the nights. And also allowed them a free STD phone during distribution to talk to their relatives back home which we felt is very important. Then we also found that small outside medicines prescribed by the Tata doc are not bought for want of money - many costing only Rs.100 - 300/- . So we decided to sponsor that also every week.

Then I contacted the other samithis to pitch in and distribute food for the other days of the week as it would be a good seva opportunity for many. And chose to call it as 'Nithya Narayan Seva'. Now each day one Samithi is reaching food for the night. Besides this we also help in select cases with initial amount of Rs.3000 to 5000 for chemo and guide them to go to the Trusts for more help. Also we help a few stranded patients to buy concessional railway ticket for which also they dont have money. We buy tickets for them.We spend about 2 hours talking to them and counselling them. To bring little bit of solace in their battle.About 120-150 packets of food are distributed everyday though the floating population varies in number.Again we found about 60 patients are in Ghatkopar Sarvodaya dharamshala. We found many patients not in a position to travel by train or bus

were suffering to come to Parel Tata from Ghatkopar for medical procedures on daily basis as asked by Tatas. We started running a vehicle service to help them. I started with my own car plying about 4 patients daily starting at 7 am and returning back at 9 am and go to work. On seeing this two other people pitched in of which one bought a new Omni and dedicated for this and refused to give his identity. All three vehicles ply about 15 patients everyday except weekends from Ghatkopar dharamshala to Tata mem Parel. While transporting them we give them a plate of rice and Swami Photo and chant Ashtothram and also after that Sai Gayatri, regular Gayatri and Sarva mangalya maangalye etc. till we reach Parel.

We also provide dry ration for the entire month for all 60 poor patients. This is not possible for footpath patients as they cannot store them on footpath. We also conduct Swami's Vibronics medical camp in Ghatkopar regularly every month and many find relief from pain. And our Seva- Nithya Narayan Seva, goes on silently as we wanted it that way...More details on all our seva in http://chemburseva. blogspot. comSairamR.ChandrashekarChembur SamithiOn Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:35:35 +0530 wrote>“MUMBAI†- A NOBLE SEVA Sai Ram. Swami always advises us to look for opportunities to be of help for needypeople. Here is a real story, which is unfolding in the city of Mumbai. Many people throng in Mumbai for various reasons, mostly in search of a job or

a for finding a way for making livelihood. The city does not disappoint anybody. In this essay we are tracking a group of patients who are living in Mumbai, for availing treatments for their chronic disease, the cancer. They have not come as a group. They just trickle in, and stay together near the Hospital premises. The patients are mostly from Bihar, U.P., West Bengal. They are very poor. They do not have money to get some sort of accommodation, and nor for their food requirements. They live in the foot path near the hospital. There are over 200 such persons including the patients and their attendants. They go back after a prolonged stay and treatments, and in the meanwhile new patients arrive and take their places. Some kind hearted Sai Devotees came to know of the appalling conditions of these sick people, who are unable to pay to buy any food. Now Sri Sathya Sai Organization has taken upon the responsibility of providing food for this group EVERY DAY. This seva has now evolved into a regulated process. Various Sai Samithis in Mumbai take turns on fixed days to feed them sumptuously. As mentioned earlier there are about 200 persons to be fed. Each samithi collects about 10 food pockets from each devotee, with curry, and the seva dals of that Samithi carries the food and serves them. The Sai Sev Organization has also thought about the poor health conditions of these immigrants. As such they also serve Hot milk, as a supplementary nutrition. The patients and the attendants are assured of at least one time food every day, with milk, being served lovingly by sai devotees. At times they seek help to buy medicines and at other times, the cured patients seek financial help to buy railway tickets to return

back to their native place. Devotees from various Sri Sai Seva Samithis are doing this noble seva silently without attracting any publicity. Couple of days ago, when I visited the home of devotee, I found the place was bustling with activities, such as collecting food pockets, repack, and boiling the milk and so on. I also overheard their discussions of some small fund requirements in case of demand for buying medicines. Kind hearted devotees, actively engaged in this Noble Seva will touch anybody’s mind. The memorable Divine visit did not interfere with the task of feeding the needy ones!!! They are really serving the Lord, nay! They are serving themselves in their spiritual evolution. God bless them!!! With Love & Regards,Bombay

Srinivasan