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WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TILL NOW
The M.A.Math under the guidance and inspiration of its founder Sri
Mata Amritandanandamayi , responded immediately to the Tsunami tragedy.
It performed immediate rescue operations solely driven by its own
volunteers, provided shelter, free clothing, food, medical and financial
aid.
Moreover the M.A.Math pledged $23 million
towards Tsunami relief and rehabilitation in India and Sri Lanka.
But, in truth, altogether the value of the project has doubled
as it has taken so many new dimensions in terms of adding fully
equipped communities to the housing project with community halls,
parks,
healthcare centers, schools and also so much of the work is being
done by volunteers.
On July 2005, the
United Nations officially recognized the Mata Amritanandamayi Math
as an NGO.
Tens of thousands of volunteers—including ashram residents,
students and staff of Amrita institutions and admirers from India
and abroad—have been selflessly participating in and contributing
to various relief works since the disaster struck.
Some of the ways volunteers have helped have been in excavating
dead bodies, making arrangements for the mass funeral of bodies
cleaning government-run relief camps, serving food, distributing
clothing, and construction of temporary shelters and the permenant
new houses.
By the end of 2006, after two years of relief effort,
the amount of aid pledged by the
M.A. Math had doubled, reaching 200 crores, $46 million U.S.
As of October 2008, all 6200 houses had been completed and distributed. Houses in Sri Lanka were completed in 2007. In many places, M.A.Math built not just houses, but also roads, wells, schools, community halls and healthcare centers.
FREE HOUSING IN INDIA AND SRILANKA
The Housing Project began with Temporary shelters and Relief Camps
for immediate occupation and today more than
4500 permanent homes out of the 6200
permenant homes have been successfully completed.
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Temporary shelters were constructed in Tamilnadu, Pondicherry,
Kerala, Srilanka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands..
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The M.A.Math built temporary shelters in Kerala for 250 families
and temporary shelters for 300 families in Tamil Nadu. The shelters
were completed on 13 January 2005 and were equipped with electric
lights, fans running water and TV.
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Relief camps were also set up in the Andaman & Nicobar
Islands.
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M. A. Math loaned five acres of land to the Kerala government
for it to build temporary shelters upon in Alappad Panchayat,
Kollam District, Kerala.
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M. A. Math created three relief camps on the Amritapuri campus
of the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham the day the tsunami struck.
About 4,000 people stayed there for the first 15 days after
the tsunami. About 2,000 of these evacuees continued staying
there for four months.
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Some families staying in makeshift government structures in
a nearby temple premises did not feel that the women were safe,
therefore those 1,500 families were also accommodated at Amrita
University.
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At the relief camps, the Ashram had organised games, races,
music and dance programmes to entertain the residents.
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PERMANENT HOMES are now being constructed at a fast pace. Presently,
construction of more than 4500 houses
have been completed out of the 6200 houses in different
locations.
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In Kerala, construction is taking place in Kollam (Cheriya
Azhikkal, Azhikkal, Srayikkad, Parayakkadavu, Pandaraturathu,
Vellana Turuthu, Kuzhithura, Clappana and Kozhikode), Ernakulam
(Edavanakkad) and Alappuzha (Valiya Azhikkal). In Pondicherry,
construction is taking place in Karakkal.
And in Sri Lanka, construction is taking place in the districts
of Kalutara and Hambantotta.
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In Tamil Nadu, houses are being constructed in Nagapattinam,
Chennai, Kanyakumari and Cuddalore. In Nagapattinam
the Math has completely adopted two
large villages and is jointly adopting
a third village (Samantapettai, Akarapettai and Pattinacherry)
with the Tata Company.
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M. A. Math was the first NGO in India
to complete tsunami-relief houses according to government specifications.
The Ashram handed over its first batch of 18 houses (Edavanakkad,
Ernakulam District, Kerala) on 13 April 2005.
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In many places, the M.A.Math is not just building houses, but
also roads, wells, schools, community halls and healthcare centres.
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After meeting with the President of Sri Lanka, Amma, on behalf
of Healthcare Charities, Inc., U.S.A., offered $685,000,
for relief work, including the construction of hundreds
of homes and, if the government permits, a free pension plan
and the adoption of orphaned children, where relatives request
it. 300 homes for Tamil and Sinhalese
tsunami victims in Sri Lanka are being built. Amma also
distributed 15,000 sarees and dhotis
each in Sri Lanka.
In Sri Lanka, houses have been constructed in the Sinhalese-populated
village of Thekkawatta, (Kalutara District,
Western Province) and in the Tamil-populated village of Periyanilavanai
(Ampara District, Eastern Province). By
January 2007, the construction in Thekkawatta—a
colony of three-storey buildings each containing
12 apartments—and a housing colony in Periyanilavanai,
had been completed.
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The M.A. Math’s first phase of 100 houses in the Andaman
Islands will be in Bamboo Flat, South Andaman. Here,
the M.A. Math is making prefabricated houses approved by the
Chennai Public Works Department, which are
given fully equipped with electric fans and provisions for
refrigerators etc.
The twin-type houses measure 1000
square-feet and not only conform to the local tribal customs
and traditions
but are earthquake- and tsunamiproof. Some houses are being constructed on stilts. As all the materials—an
estimated 1,000 tons—have to be shipped from the mainland, the cost will come to around Rs.
5 crores ($1.15 million U.S.).
The M.A. Math is the
first non-governmental organisation to offer to construct
houses on the island.
FREE FOOD AND CLOTHING
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So far the M.A.Math has served more than 7.5 million meals
throughout Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
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About 15 minutes after the tsunami struck, the M.A.Math started
preparing food for the evacuees, and immediately sent 40 trucks
of raw rice and food supplies all over Kerala.
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In Alappad alone, the M.A.Math provided three meals daily for
135 days at 22 counters along a 17.5-km stretch along the coast.
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In Kollam District, in addition to serving three meals a day
to more than 3,600 families (18,000 people) in the Amrita University
campus, three meals a day were served to 12,000 – 15,000
refugees in 12 government relief camps.
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In Kollam District, during the first 15 days, 15 tonnes of
hot wheat cereal was prepared and 22,500 litres of milk were
distributed to children in government camps. * The Ashram provided
lunch at the schools in Kerala that children living in the relief
camps were attending.
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In Chennai, a total of 56,000 meals were provided from 27 December
2004 – 10 January 2005
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In the Nagapattinam camps, 675,000 meals were prepared and
served within a radius of 15 km, beginning on 27 Dec. 2004.
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In Tamil Nadu, the M.A. Math distributed 185 tons of uncooked
rice, 1.1 tons of cooking oil, 1.5 tons of flour, 1.5 tons of
sugar, 1.5 tons of rava, 2.1 tons of powdered milk and 4.5 tons
of dhal.
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In Kerala, M.A. Math distributed 30,000 kg of within the first
15 days. Another 20,000 kg of rice were distributed to the evacuees
when they left the relief camp.
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Raw food items were also distributed in Sri Lanka.
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During Amma’s visit to Nagapattinam, Amma distributed
6,000 bagsof rice.
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The M.A. Math provided lunch at the schools in Kerala that
children living in the relief camps were attending.
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In Nagapattinam, Amma distributed 6,000
bags of rice, clothes and other provisions.
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The M.A. Math has distributed 40,000
sets of clothes in Tamil Nadu, 35,000
in Kerala and 15,000 in Sri Lanka.
In addition, 30,000 blankets were
given out to the tsunami victims.
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The Ashram has been taking care of the food and clothing need
of close to 10,000 families – for
over 8 months now.
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Along with providing bedding, the ashram also provided 3 sets
of clothing for children in Kollam district
and 3 sets of clothing for everyone in
Allapad district. So over 16,000
families were comforted.
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In Kerala, the M.A. Math distributed 1.5
crores Rupees amongst 16, 000 families
residing in the districts of Kollam, Ernakulam and Alleppy for
buying cooking vessels.
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In addition, those who are part of the ashram’s pension
scheme received 1,700 rupees, and in Cochin, all the people
were given 750 rupees immediately.
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In Tamil Nadu, the ashram is also donating 600
fishing boats, engines, and fishing nets. In Kerala
the ashram is donating 150 boats,
engines and nets. On an average 7 families will be supported
by each fishing boat.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Vocational training and jobs are being provided. Close to 2500
youths are being trained for jobs in Amma’s institutions.
800 are being trained in fields of
Nursing, Plumbing, Electrical and Security, while over 1000 are
being trained to become drivers.
According to their educational qualifications,others are educated
to be teachers, paramedical assistants, masonry workers, carpenters
and mechanics.
In addition, 600 tailoring machines
are provided for free. The trainees are also given Rs.500
as a stipend.. The drivers are also given
free eye check-ups.
Graduates are now making around Rs. 2,000 per month stitching
clothing. Classes are also taking place in Nagapattinam.
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The M.A.Math is assisting villagers living in Alappad Panchayat
to form self-help groups in areas such as tailoring, sandal-making,
soap-manufacturing, etc. The idea is to help small villages
become self-dependent and to help them find new means to generate
income. The program will soon be expanded to one village in
each of Kerala’s 14 districts.
FREE EDUCATION AND STATIONERY
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The M.A.Math has also distributed educational aids, such as
10,000 textbooks, 5,000 pens, instrument boxes, dictionaries
and notebooks.
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In Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, the M.A.Math is providing
free hostel accommodation for 24 college students, free computer
training for 200 youth, and free general (1st-12th standard)
tuition to 750 others. Spoken English classes are also being
provided.
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The M.A.Math is also providing free education and hostel accommodation
for 35 children at the Ashram’s school in Parippally (Kollam
District, Kerala).
FREE MEDICAL CARE
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Medical camps for the treatment of the vicitms in all the affected
areas. Elevan ambulances from AIMS,
the Ashram's charitable hospital in Cochin, were sent to nearby
areas in Kollam district to facilitate doctors and nurses in
treating the distressed and injured. In addition, six
ventilator-equippedambulances and medical teams headed
by 10 doctors, including anaesthesiologists and cardiologists,
and staffed by nurses and paramedics were deployed in the affected
area in Tamil Nadu and Cochin. They made rounds of the tsunami-affected
areas and relief camps for four months, initially visiting each
camp every two hours.
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A medical unit comprising an ambulance and doctors was also
despatched to Vypin, Ernakulam District, Kerala.
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Similarly, in Tamil Nadu, medical teams comprising four ambulances,
seven doctors, five paramedics and a full ICU team swung into
action soon after the disaster
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Within the first few days itself, more than Rs. 600,000-worth
of medicines were distributed.
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In total, the charitable hospital in Amritapuri distributed
more than Rs. 1,000,000 worth of medicines to the tsunami-affected.
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AIMS Hospital has treated 900 tsunami victims since the disaster
hit, with 510 of those being inpatients. Of those, 450 were
given major surgeries, including 15 cardiac surgeries.
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Seven ladies who lost all their children in the tsunami have
undergone re-canalisation surgery at AIMS Hospital to make them
able to conceive once again. Everything was provided free: medicine,
pre-examinations, surgery, follow-up examinations, etc. Two
of have had children recently.
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The M.A.Math also provided appropriate care for 16 pregnant
women until they gave birth and continued providing them with
postnatal care.
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Transportation to AIMS for all the above patients was provided
free of charge.
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The Ashram’s Ayurveda College provided medical treatment
to 200 inpatients immediately after the tsunami.
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The M.A.Math also carried out 20 eye camps and 115 cataract
operations, and distributed 400 spectacles to those who lost
theirs during the tsunami.
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A telemedicine centre was set up at the Ashram’s temporary
shelters in Alappad Panchayat, connecting the doctors stationed
there with AIMS Hospital.
FINANCIAL AID
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In Kerala, the M.A.Math distributed 1.5 crores rupees amongst
16,000 families residing in the districts of Kollam, Ernakulam
and Alappuzha for buying cooking vessels.
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In addition, those who are part of the M.A.Math's pension
scheme received Rs. 1,700. In Cochin District, affected families
received 750 rupees.
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Pensions are being provided to tsunami-affected families in
Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
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Amma has also expressed interest to the Sri Lankan government
in providing financial aid in the form of pensions to tsunami
victims of the country [through Healthcare Charities, a not-for-profit
organisation of Amma’s American devotees.
PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELLING
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In May, after months of counselling hundreds of tsunami victims
in Alappad Panchayat, doctors from AIMS diagnosed 160 as suffering
from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); these cases will
continue to receive treatment until they return to normalcy.
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A team of child psychiatrists and psychologists have been actively
interacting with the children in the affected areas since the
disaster struck.
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Trained experts have been using music therapy to help the
children and adults recover from their trauma.
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M. A. Math hosted children's camp for over
10,000 children affected by the Tsunami.
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During the camp the children received classes in harmonium,
tabla, singing, dancing, sports, yoga, spoken-English, Sanskrit
and swimming. They were also encouraged to channel their talents
in storytelling, poetry-writing and drawing. Stimulating the
minds of the children helped them to shift their focus from
their recent trauma.
ORPHANAGES AND ADOPTIONS
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An orphanage is being started in Nagapattinam
District, Tamil Nadu in order to take care of approximately
350 children who lost their parents in the tsunami.
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50 children orphaned by the tsunami in Chennai District are
being looked after.
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The M.A.Math has expressed willingness to help orphans in
Sri Lanka as well.
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Amma 
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