Amrita Nidhi Voices - Mumbai
Wednesday, 3 March 2004 -Mumbai, Maharashtra
Amrita Nidhi, Amma's pension programme for
widows and destitute women, grew dramatically during
Amma's 2004 India Tour, expanding from three to 11
states. In each city Amma gave darshan, She and various
dignitaries personally distributed pension checks to
several representative beneficiaries. During the programme
in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Amritapuri.org had a chance
to talk with a few of the new recipients.
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Smt. Lakshmi Nayar, 60, has been a widow for
20 years. She never had any children and has
no living relatives. "I live in one of the
suburbs of Bombay," she says. "I work
there doing small household chores like washing
and cooking for a family. I sleep in their kitchen.
I cannot work long hours, so the people I work
for pay only by giving me a roof and food. I
have no income of my own. Through Amma's pension
scheme, I now have at least some money of my
own to spend on clothes or puja . |
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Beneficiary Mara Baivatkarra could not come
herself because she could not leave her husband
alone. So her oldest daughter, 20, came to receive
it in her behalf. "My father has been paralysed
for the last 10 years due to a stroke and has
not been able to provide for the family," she
says. "My mother has to care for him all
the time, and she is a little sick herself, so
she could not come. I was very excited about
meeting Amma. It feels great. Amma is like a
god; it makes me feel good within." |
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T Parvati (35) is a widow. Her husband died
from alcohol-related illness. "He used to
spend his wages on drinking and that made life
very difficult," she says. "I have
two daughters of 13 and eight years old. I hope
I can use some of Amma's money to pay for their
school fees. I am really grateful to Amma. She
is so loving. And the darshan made me feel peaceful.
If Amma comes again to Mumbai next year, I will
surely come and see her again!" |
Arpak Tankar 47, has been a widow since her husband
died of cancer 10 years ago. "I can work only
little because I have to take care of my two daughters," she
says. "It is very difficult to earn enough money
to support them. My greatest worry is if I can find
them a suitable husband because we are so poor. I hope
this money will help."
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