KOLLAM (Ker), Sept 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today lauded the works and contributions of spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi towards various social welfare aspects that improve the quality of human life, especially in the field of sanitation.
Addressing a huge gathering of devotees on the occasion of her 63rd birthday celebrations at Amritapuri near here through a live video conference, Modi said Mata’s role in sanitation has helped government’s Swacch Bharat programme.
He referred to the works done and donations made by the Amritanandamayi Mata in the field of sanitation, drinking water, housing, education and health.
“Particularly, Amma’s initiative on building toilets has been a great help in our Swachh Bharat Programme,” he said.
He also referred to Mata’s pledge to contribute Rs 100 crore towards sanitation programme that included construction of 15,000 toilets for the poor in Kerala.
“I am informed that the Amma’s ashram has already completed construction of 2,000 toilets,” he said, adding, “Amritanandamayi is the guiding light for millions of devotees.”
“Like a real Maa, she nurtures her devotees through direct and indirect acts, visible and invisible hands,” he added.
Noting that her main strength is service to mankind and devotion to God, Modi said, “Devotion to God and dedication to the poor is thus the message that I have personally taken from my association with Amma.”
Millions of devotees from all over the world also believe the same, he said.
Recounting his earlier meeting with Amma, Modi said “three years ago I had the opportunity to visit Amma on her 60th birthday celebrations. Though today I am not so lucky as to be able to greet her in person, I am at least able to do so through technology.”
On Mata’s other initiatives, Modi said “She is always keen to help the world’s poor in meeting their five basic needs: food, shelter, health care, education, and livelihood.”
On Amrita University’s innovation projects, the Prime Minister said, “It is also heartening to note that the researchers at Amrita University are innovating new approaches to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems.”
Modi also mentioned the donation of Rs 100 crore made by the Mata towards the Namami Gange programme.
Speaking on the occasion, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said according to Bharatiya tradition, the universe is run on dharma, which has four components—truth, compassion, purity and tapas.
“This dharma has to be enacted in one’s life.I have to say that in Bharat, we are lucky to have an illustrious tradition which is continuing today,” he said. “When I say this, my statement holds true because all of us are looking in Amma,” he said. Samajwadi Party General secretary Amar Singh asked the Centre to confer Bharat Ratna on Mata Amritandamayi Devi in recognition of her various contributions towards humanity and India. She is rendering a selfless service to the world, he said. Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha P J Kurian also echoed the the views of Amar Singh and requested Mohan Bhagwat to take an initiative for this.
Amritanandanmayi, in her message, touched upon the threat of terrorism faced by the world and issues connected with environment pollution.
“Terrorism has become one of humanity’s foremost problems, robbing society of its peace,” she said.
Quoting statistics, she said around 1200 largescale terrorist attacks have taken place in various parts of the world in 2016 alone. “Today our waking reality is worse than our most terrifying nightmare”, she said.
The message India has to give to the world is love, compassion, purity and relentless effort, she said.
Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, V K Singh, Governor Justice (Retd) P Sathasivam, BJP State President Kummanam Rajasekharan and Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam General Secretary Vellapally Natesan were among the host of dignitaries present on the occasion. (PTI)
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