AMMA DONATES 400 MORE HOUSES
Nagapattinanam, Feb. 1 (NMG)- Mata Amritanandamayi, popularly known as Amma, handed over the keys of the houses constructed by Mata Amritanandamayi Mission for the survivors of tsunami, at a function held at the Valivalam Desikar Polytechnic here last evening, to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, who will handover the same to the beneficiaries identified by the government.
About 400 houses were ready for occupation, in addition to the 1,400 already given to the fishermen of Nagapattinam. Mata Amrita Mission was alloted the construction of 2000 houses for the fishermen who lost their dwellings and belongings in the 2004 tsunami. The remaining 200 houses will be handed over to the beneficiaries during March or April.
Each house with a puja room, a bedroom, hall, kitchen and toilet cost about Rs. 2 lakh and has been designed by volunteer construction experts, said Swamy Abhayamrita Chaitanya, Chief Operating Officer of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and in-charge of rehabilitation of tsunami survivors in Nagapattinam.
The Mission had completed 20 per cent of the rehabilitation project entrusted to 88 NGOs and had completed its share of allotted work.
As part of the rehab of fishermen families affected by the tsunami, Amritanandamayi Mission, apart from providing houses had also given 700 boats with engines, each costing about Rs.2 lakh and 1000 nets to them.
The Mission, in view of reduction of fish in the sea due to the tsunami, has also taken up pisciculture by constructing large ponds in the shallow part of the sea near Amritapuri to breed fish which will be later released into the sea.
Projects for child and women welfare, education, medical care are functioning at tsunami affected areas by the Mission.
M. Karunanidi in his address lauded the work of Amma and said that he had no words to describe the love and dedication behind the work done by Amma and the sanyasis of Amrita Ashram.
Nagapattinam District Collector Tenkasi S. Jawahar, MP A.K.S. Vijayan MLA V. Marimuthu and others were present. After the hour long programme, Amma conducted bhajans.
1 Feb 2007, Nagapattinam
Star of Mysore
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