A Visit of Farmers And Their Wives From Washim To Amritapuri

September 2008: "In our Mother's house"

Villagers from Vidarbha, wearing traditional Maharashtrian dress travelled to Amritapuri to receive darshan from Amma on 14th September. 16 women wearing the 9-metre, madisar costume, which folds into a trouser style sari, and 22 men dressed in dhoti and cap arrived in the ashram, fulfilling a deep desire that had blossomed in their hearts during Amma's visit to the Washim, Vidarbha in February.

Mrs. Keshaorao Lonsune said, "Twenty-two children in my village are receiving scholarships from Amma. They have Rs. 150 every month. Now we can buy books, shoes and umbrellas (sun-shades in India), and things they need for schoolwork. We want to be with Amma- she is giving us all this."

Mr. Pandari Ingole, a farmer, expressed his gratitude; " My son is now an electrician at AIMS hospital. He receives Rs. 3,000 a month, plus free board and food. He is being trained by the brahmacharis. My son will be skilled because of Amma. This is her gift to me" Following the success of the employment programme for farmers' sons at AIMS Hospital, Amma has now invited ten women to come from Washim to be employed as kitchen assistants. The development projects depend on suitable building land becoming available.

For several days the group attended Amma's daily darshans and got to know ashram life. Amma was concerned for their food intake and organized distribution of chappatis for them after testing their blood sugar, which she said was far too high because they were eating high amounts of rice, which they were not accustomed to.

One man said, "By Amma's touch my whole being feels transformed. I've decided not to touch alcohol anymore. I want to become Amma's good child. Now I know how to come here. Whenever I feel the urge to see Amma I will come here directly."

The ladies were thankful for Amma's motherly love, which she showered on them during their stay. They said that in Maharashtra there is one festival when wives return to their mothers' house for a happy reunion.

The women were amazed to see a large swing hanging from the trees in the garden beside Amma's room, which was very much like the ones they were used to playing on in their homes. The women could not resist playing on the swing, boldly standing up on it in pairs, and swinging. At home, they said they swing so high they pluck the leaves from the highest branches of the trees above the swing between their teeth!! "We feel we are in our mother's house," they mused joyfully.

Each person in the group contributed Rs. 100 to Amma's charities. "Next year, for Amma's birthday we'll come as volunteers to serve Amma!" they said.

THE CHALLENGES

One afternoon a group of men, women, explained their situation with the help of Ravi the local community worker and an agricultural officer. They came to request Amma to build a temple, a school and a hospital in their area. They want to assure themselves a better future, with Amma's help.

They explained the difficult circumstances they face in Washim and said the situation had become desperate following this year's drought. For the first time ever, even the districts officially categorized as being 'assured' of rain suffered low level of rainfall. There was only 10cm of rain, one-tenth the usual rate and the ground water table is at an all time low. In their deprived area, there is no investment in water harvesting techniques and bore wells are either empty, or contain a very low supply. Many farms are without any means of irrigation.

There was no wheat harvest this year. Farmers who were able to reap one crop of soya, the main monocrop of the region, had no well water to nurture the second season crop. On these farms, the farmer's wives are without work for eight months. To make matters worse, soya bean is now a loss making crop, which means it sells at less than it costs to produce. But the farmers have no other choice. Pasturelands are dry and there is no forage for the animals so the government has had to provide grass through special livestock-feeding centers. As if natural catastrophes were not enough, the farmers also have to overcome bureaucratic obstacles.

If a farmer receives a grant to buy a cow, he has to provide one-third of the total cost but when he approaches a seller, the price of the cow will often be hiked, and he will have to pay the increase from his pocket.

In addition to farming and irrigation problems, they also face obstacles to education and healthcare. The people cannot pay the 'donation' required by schools that teach all subjects in English-something that is essential step to go onto higher education. Local healthcare is meagre, sometimes the small local government hospitals do not have enough medicines. The big city hospitals with essential facilities and medicines are beyond the reach of these villagers, as they cannot even afford the cost of travel to them, let alone the medical fees.

At every turn in their lives the farming families in the villages near Washim are thwarted. It is not surprising that the suicide rate is rising again and that they are desperate for an agency with integrity to give them a fair deal in education and health. This is why they want Amma to make a Brahmasthanam Temple in their area. They feel if Amma builds a Brahmasthanam, she will also build a school and hospital. They say if a spiritual leader comes, people will listen and act according to dharma. They are convinced that only a spiritually led development programme will work.

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