Part of Ashram’s Fight Against Farmer Suicide
5 February 2008 — Amritapuri
Working capital was distributed to 101 women’s self-help groups as part of the Ashram’s Amrita Self-Reliance Employment & Empowerment Program (Amrita SREE). Amrita SREE is part of the Ashram’s multi-pronged effort to fight suicide amongst farmers in India.
The capital was distributed by Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy in the presence of Amma. M.P. Veerendrakumar, MP, distributed the working capital to a self-help group for starting a fashion-designing institution.
In his inaugural address, Oommen Chandy said that during the last three years Kerala has faced two major crises: tsunami and farmers suicide. He said that Amma’s Ashram has come forward to that support the dependents of both sets of victims.
In his address, Veerendrakumar said that Amma was “lifting the 100,000 families to a ‘zone of hope’ by providing them employment opportunities.
Dhana Lakshmi Bank chief manager M. Muralidharan also attended the function.
Furthermore, Olympic bronze medalist P.T. Usha distributed the annual grant for 18 village libraries and arts and sports clubs.
— Tulasi