RAMAKRISHNA MATH AND RAMAKRISHNA MISSION

RELIEF BULLETIN

(Issued by the General Secretary from the Headquarters, Belur Math)

A BRIEF REPORT AS ON 1 DECEMBER 2002

Tamil Nadu Flood Relief: In the wake of the recent heavy rains in and around Chennai, the Chennai Math distributed 2250 kg rice and 1000 mats to 500 families of Rutherfordpuram and Meenambalpuram slum areas in Mylapore.

Orissa Winter Relief: Puri Math distributed 420 blankets to poor and needy people at 4 villages of Gop and Brahmagiri blocks in Puri district.

Bangladesh Distress Relief: Dinajpur centre distributed 756 kg rice, 56 kg dal, 231 saris and 29 dhotis among the needy people of nearby areas.

Gujarat Earthquake Rehabilitation: The progress report of the construction of houses and schools by the Rehabilitation camps directly under the Headquarters and through our centres in Gujarat is as follows:

Houses

Schools

The total cost of the Gujarat Earthquake Rehabilitation Project is nearly Rs. 16.80 crore.

1. Revered President Maharaj inaugurated the newly built A.C. auditorium at New Delhi centre on 3 November. On the following day, he installed the photos of Holy Mother and Swamiji in the temple.

2. Delhi chief minister Smt. Sheila Dikshit visited New Delhi centre on 10 November.

Ranchi Morabadi Ashrama organized public meetings on 9 and 10 November as a part of the concluding phase of the platinum jubilee celebration of the Ashrama. Swami Gahananandaji, a vice-president of the Ramakrishna Order, Jharkhand Governor Sri M. Rama Jois, Jharkhand Assembly speaker Sri Inder Singh Namdhari and some other distinguished persons addressed the meetings.

3. On 13 November, the sacred Jagaddhatri Puja day, Swami Atmasthanandaji, a vice-president of the Ramakrishna Order, inaugurated the newly extended lecture hall Swami Vijnanananda Satsang Bhavan at Allahabad Sevashrama and addressed a meeting organized on this occasion.Uttar Pradesh Governor Sri Vishnu Kant Shastri presided over the function.

4. Ponnampet Ashrama celebrated its platinum jubilee from 22 to 24 November. Karnataka muzarai (temple management) minister Smt. Suma Vasant inaugurated the celebrations. Karnataka Governor Sri T.N. Chaturvedi and several other eminent persons addressed the public meetings organized on this occasion.

5. The following centres conducted free eye camps:

1. Mr. Ratu Jope Seniloli, Vice-president of the Republic of Fiji Islands, visited our Fiji school on 28 November and distributed prizes to the students.  On the same day, Mr. Kenro Iino, Ambassador of Japan to Fiji, inaugurated a 2,00,000-dollar project of the Ashrama at Nawaicoba vocational centre, which included construction of a new office complex, a new workshop, additional classrooms, etc.