odds 'n' ends: tsunami relief: how you can help

January 03, 2005

tsunami relief: how you can help

I mentioned in an earlier post that I have spent a lot of time, many months spread over a five year period, in this district in south India, on the coast of Kerala state. I've also visited the Tamil Nadu coast, Mahabalipuram and Madras, where MA Math has already been providing aid to victims of the tsunami. This is an organization already in situ and already active in relief efforts. You can send a donation to this site. Here is the latest update from Swami Dayamrita at MA Center.

Amma Dedicates 1 Billion Rupees Towards Reconstructing Homes Destroyed By Tsunami

Her Holiness Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma), who is known throughout the world for her humanitarian work, has today announced that her ashram will dedicate one billion rupees [$23,364,486 U.S.D.] to reconstruct homes in Southern India that were completely destroyed by the tsunami on 26th December.

The houses will be built according to the specifications of the state governments. The Math has proposed to build houses consisting of two rooms, a kitchen, a small veranda and a toilet.

Amma's ashram is located in Alappad Village, the worst-hit area in Kerala. More than 140 people were killed in the tiny village. The ashram was also flooded, but none of the 13,000 people visiting at the time were injured, including 1,000 people from the West.

As thousands in the area are currently homeless, the ashram has already started constructing temporary shelters to house them until the new homes are completed. This is being done on a 10-acre property owned by the ashram about 1 kilometer away.

Amma's ashram is also allocating 1,000 rupees to each family for purchasing household items. A total of 15 million rupees [$350,467 U.S.D.] have been allocated for this purpose. The ashram will also provide free education and counseling to those children who have lost both parents in the tragedy.

Besides the rehabilitation and reconstruction of houses in Kerala, the ashram is also helping tsunami victims in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Under the direction of Amma, the ashram has been providing food, shelter, clothing, medical assistance and emotional support for the affected since the moment the tsunami hit the Indian Coast.
Since 1998, the Ashram has built and given away more than 30,000 houses for the destitute homeless throughout India as part of its Amrita Kuteeram Free Housing Project.

Namah Sivaya, Dayamrita