Disaster Relief Works

There is nothing preplanned about Amma’s mission. All her projects have been spontaneously compassionate responses to the sorrow and suffering that she sees around her. There is no question of 'how' or 'why'. 

Her compassion has manifested in the massive relief efforts undertaken by the Ashram. Whenever and wherever disaster, Amma responded as a mother would to her children's needs. The past few years have seen natural disasters and tragedies involving the natural elements: fire, water, wind, and earth. In October 2005, the Indian regions of Kashmir and Jammu and Pakistan were rocked by an earthquake that claimed over 80,000 lives. Two months before that, in August 2005, Hurricane Katrina submerged the entire city of New Orleans and displaced hundreds of thousands. In July 2005, almost three feet (944mm) of rain fell in 24 hours in Mumbai, resulting in massive flooding. The tsunami that struck in December 2004 claimed countless lives throughout India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and other countries in the region. In June 2004, a fire at a school in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, took the lives of nearly 100 children and left countless others injured. In 2001, an earthquake destroyed many villages and killed 3,000 people in Gujarat. In 1992, an earthquake in Lathore, Maharastra, claimed 20,000 lives.

In response to each of these tragedies, Amma’s helping hand reached out to those in need.

She has always felt a deep inner calling that it was her duty to help people.  From an early age, Amma has been helping those in the surrounding villages who were in need by providing food, clothing, and shelter.  Later, Amma’s charitable activities expanded throughout her home state of Kerala, and then continued on to all of India. Amma has often said that while it may be someone's karma to fall into a well, it is our karma to assist them.  Today, Amma’s efforts to alleviate pain and suffering extend to all parts of the globe.

Amma also says that there is currently an imbalance in Dharma and in Nature - we are taking from Nature with reckless abandon and not caring sufficiently for the suffering in the world.  How can we restore this balance?  Amma says this can be done by following our own Dharma and by praying with our hearts and serving with our hands.

Amma has also asked all her children around the world to pray for world peace by chanting ‘Lokah Samastah Sukinau Bhavantu’ – May all beings in all the worlds be happy.

Kashmir Earthquake: Two disciples, along with devotees from the Delhi Ashram, immediately traveled to the region to console villagers and to distribute food and other aid to victims, including hundreds of blankets which were sent from Amritapuri. The Ashram also met with government officials and expressed a desire to adopt 2-3 villages.

Asian Tsunami: Amma pledged 100 crore (23 million USD) in aid for India – including 3 lakh for Sri Lanka. The overall efforts are truly massive and widespread: from providing immediate aid in the form of temporary shelters, food, clothing, medical assistance, and basic needs, to long term projects which include the construction of 6,200 new homes, distribution of 700 new boats, and providing vocational training, education, and pensions to those in need. The Ashram was also the first NGO in India to complete construction of new homes.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Amma pledged one million dollars in aid and assistance to those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Devotees who were trained medical experts traveled to Louisiana to help. Food, clothing, school supplies, and other items were collected from all over the country and distributed to evacuees. Devotees have also reached out to evacuees by helping them find new homes and jobs, or by writing letters of comfort to victims. Others used the internet to locate and reconnect friends and family members who had been separated.

Gujurat Earthquake: In Gujurat, Amma’s immediate response was to send a 12-person medical team from AIMS Super Specialty Hospital. Students from Amrita Instituions also went to the region. The groups worked day and night - saving 40 lives from a collapsed school, while also delivered many babies. The Ashram adopted and completely rebuilt three villages—Modsar, Mokhana and Dagara - constructing some 1200 earthquake-proof houses, medical clinics, water tanks, schools, community halls, temples and mosques.

Lathore Earthquake: In Lathore, the Ashram provided financial support to victims.

Flooding in Mumbai: The Ashram sent a medical team to Mumbai in response to the flooding. The team spent three weeks visiting slum areas, distributing medicines and treating over 32,000 victims for infectious diseases. The Ashram also served food at the relief camps

School Fire: Brahmacharinis from Amritapuri visited Kumbhakonam, Tamil Nadu to help in the hospitals where victims were being treated. They also consoled families who lost children or whose children were badly burned in the fire. When Amma heard about the impoverished living conditions of some of the families, She immediately decided to provide new homes.