January 2006

The M.A.Math gave financial aid of Rs 10,000 - Rs. 20,000 to every tsunami-affected family in Kerala. It also provided Rs. 50,000 to the families of the six fishermen who drowned off the coast of Alappad Panchayat in the tragic boating accident of late December 2005.

On 31 January 2006, Amma was awarded the Sant Jnaneshwara World Peace Prize. The organizers of the World Peace Conference-2006 have chosen to confer the first Philosopher Saint Shri Jnaneshwara World Peace Prize on most revered Amma for promotion of world peace, harmony, and universal brotherhood.

Cardiology Cathlab Team from AIMS implants Free ICDs (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators) and Pacemakers in 21 Patients.

February 2006

Twenty-seven sewing machines were given to the tailoring graduates from the free vocational training

In Nagappatinam, Tamilnadu 1050 tsunami homes are being constructed along with amenities like roads, community halls, child care, and rainwater-harvesting systems. The M.A. Math plans to complete these houses within six months.

The M.A. Math’s disaster relief outreach is international with the construction of approximately 120 homes throughout Sri Lanka. As per the Govt. of Sri Lanka's guidelines, the Math is building 3-storey homes, each with a total of 530 square feet.

March 2006

Tour of compassion and giving

April 2006
On April 10th, the M.A.Math signs a memorandum of understanding to build 100 houses in Bambooflat, South Andaman, as part of its tsunami relief-and-rehabilitation project

May 2006
On 2nd May 2006, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma) was presented with the Interfaith Center of New York’s 4th Annual James Parks Morton Interfaith Award. The Interfaith Center of New York (ICNY) bestowed the award upon Amma for her outstanding role as a spiritual leader and humanitarian, citing in specific her organization’s massive relief work in the wake of the 2004 Asian tsunami.

Mobile Tele-Medicine unit

Mobile Tele-Medicine

June 2006
Tsunami Rehabilitation and Celebration

ATMA observed World Blood Donors day with the Amrita Blood Collector's and Donor's forum (ABCD forum). The forum was been launched on the World Blood Donor's Day (WBDD), observed on June 14th.

July 2006
"Darshan – The Embrace", a film on the life of Amma has been officially selected for showcasing at the prestigious 2005 Cannes Film Festival. Jan Kounen, an award winning filmmaker who was born in Netherlands and is based in France, directed the film. Manuel De La Roche of France, is the producer. The film festival now in its 58th year is taking place

Darshan in USA

August 2006
Surat Disaster Relief

Serving an hour a day - Amrita University students.

Sept 2006
Another Tsunami Story

Tsunami baby born

Oct 2006
The Amrita School of Medicine and AIMS hospital was involved in the prevention and cure of chikaungunya ( a painful epidemic caused by some breed of mosquotoes) from the very beginning of the outbreak by conducting medical camps, health education campaigns, removal of breeding places of aedes mosquitoes,

Nov 2006
The AIMS Department of Endocrinology staged an exhibition on diabetes awareness called Amrita Diafest 2006 in connection with World Diabetes Day.

Dec 2006
A bridge that will be etched in history

AIMS brings hope and life

Aother AIMS beneficiary

Jan 2007
As we step into 2007

Today, the Amrita ISRO Village Resource Center launched Tele-Fisheries and Tsunami Alert Systems at the fisheries harbor in Azhikkal, Alappad Panchayat, Kerala.

The M.A.Math has completed over 4500 homes for the Tsunami victims already. Recently 225 additional Tsunami homes were built in Nagapattinam, India and 100 more Tsunami homes in Pondicherry, India.

As a part of the Life-time pension scheme (Amrita Nidhi scheme) of the M.A.Math 1000 more needy people received life-time pensions in Calicut and Trichy, India,

As a part of the self-employment scheme for the unemployed, a total of 150 more sewing machines were given

Feb 2007
Amma visits Sri Lanka

March 2007
Amma distributed pension certificates and pension amounts to new enrolees in the Ashram's lifetime pension program 'Amrita Nidhi' for widows and the disabled in Delhi and Jaipur. Also many impoverished women of Delhi and Jaipur received a sewing machine.

M.A.math conducted a massive free health camp in Mysore. The camp provided tests for diabetes, heart problems, health of women and children with the help of a satellite-linked Tele-medicine unit. This free health camp was inaugurated in the AmritaKripa Charitable hospital of the M.A.Math in Mysore.

In Ahmedabad, Gujarat Amma distributed life-time pensions to 15 new enrolees of the Amrita Nidhi project ( Life-time pension plan for the old, handicapped, widowed and others who are in need.) Moreover,10 impoverished women each received a sewing machine from Amma to start their own small business.

As a part of the Life-time pension plan ( Amrita Nidhi), Amma granted life-time pensions to a 12 new enrolees in Mumbai.

About 2500 children from all over Kerala, India came to M.A.Math Amritapuri campus to attend a five-day personality development workshop. This 5 day worshop's mission is to help the children acquire balance of mind, the ability to face the challenges of education, attain confidence, and to understand and imbibe values. Yoga and meditation were also taught.

Amrita Unversity students sponsor the education of financially disadvantaged students.

Amma on behalf of th M.A.Math pledged $46 million worth project to protect and sustain frustrated farmers who are all on the verge of cummitting suicide.

April 2007
HEALTH CARD SCHEME
Health Card Scheme of the AIMS Hospital. According to this scheme, all the poor residents of the area will receive free medical treatment using their Health Card up to Rs.10,000 per year. Additionally life-time pensions were given to the destitute under the Amrita Nidhi Scheme. (Life-time pension scheme)

The new Amrita Nilayam Working Women's Hostel was inaugurated by the city's mayor, Professor R. Bindu. The aim of the hostel is to provide safe living quarters for women working in the city.

TSUNAMI BABY BORN
Asha and Pradeep (both 35 years old) from Azheekkal, India had lost their two daughters (ages 7 and 10) in the Tsunami. After undergoing reverse tubal litigation and in-vitro fertilization sponsored by the M.A.Math, Asha gave birth to a boy.

Fifteen impoverished women received sewing machines from M.A.Math in Mumbai to start their own small business.

Amma on behalf of th M.A.Math distributed pension checks to 10 invalid enrolees of the lifetime pension program of the Math.

Also, ten sewing machines were distributed to impoverished women as a part of the self-employment scheme of the Math.

Amma on behalf of M.A.Math agreed to provide free education and heart surgeries to the homeless children in Hyderabad, India

he M.A.Math in conjunction with the Handloom Textiles Department of the Government of Kerala, India provided three months training in weaving in two location in Kerala. The main objective of this training program was to give better employment opportunities and skills to impoverished women.

Construction of Tsunami homes in the Andaman and Nicobar islands progressing well. .

May 2007
The M.A.Math sponsored the supply of pure drinking water to sustain 19,000 people ( about 7100 families) who were either living below poverty line, fishermen or were disadvantaged sections of the society. The M.A.Math paid the water supply fees of 33,00000 Indian Rupees ( approx 80,400 USD) to the Kerala Water Resource Minister, Mr.M.K. Premachandran. The program involves the purification and distribution of water from the Shastamkotta Backwaters in Kerala, India.

ABC News 20/20 Primetme featured Amma in a segment called "The Power of Faith." -

June 2007
The massive farmers' suicide prevention project starts developing in many dimensions.

After Amma announced that the Ashram will undertake an Rs. 200-crore [$45.4 million U.S.] project to tackle the problem of suicides by farmers of Maharashtra,Kerala and other states. these steps are now beng taken to begin wit:

Free education for 30,000 children

Creating social awareness

Employment Training for 5,000 women

Read more details here

July 2007
The M.A.Math sponsored the supply of pure drinking water to sustain 19,000 people ( about 7100 families) who were either living below poverty line, fishermen or were disadvantaged sections of the society. The M.A.Math paid the water supply fees of 33,00000 Indian Rupees ( approx 80,400 USD) to the Kerala Water Resource Minister, Mr.M.K. Premachandran. The program involves the purification and distribution of water from the Shastamkotta Backwaters in Kerala, India.

August 2007
Amma, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi announces 2 new projects to curb suicides among farmers in India.
- Free education for 30,000 children

- Employment training for 5000 women

For details

What they say

Director, JAN KOUNEN on the film Darshan

" DARSHAN portrays Amritanandamayi Devi, a "Mahatma", a spiritual leader. I went to her with an open state of mind and the choice of bringing back whatever I experienced, whether positive or negative. I structured the film into a journey towards mystery, a journey through which I would accompany her, on and off over the span of a year.

DARSHAN depicts the evolution of my perception of Amma; first, through the eyes of the westerner before the unknown, then gradually sliding in to witness overflowing love and the perception of beauty in a destiny which has become a legend."

This is a brief excerpt from the ABC News feature on Amma in a segment called " The Power of Faith"

In the south of India lives a woman who has dedicated her life to helping others through the simplest of gestures -- an embrace... Through 16 straight hours, Amma hugged each and every person while offering advice and guidance to many troubled hearts. She is not selling salvation or offering physical healing or a chance at prosperity. Instead, Amma seems to have tapped into a deep and essential human need -- the need for affection and the human touch. Amma has inspired and started many humanitarian services, from charities and orphanages, and founded an 800-bed hospital, schools of higher education and soup kitchens at home and abroad. Her devotion to her cause is reflected in her followers.

Olara A. Otunnu, Former UN Under-Secretary General

"I was very moved by the meeting. Before the meeting, of course, I'd seen her in darshan. She was receiving a lot of people. And the way in which people bring to her their troubles, their burdens, their grief, and how they seemed to leave it on her shoulders and the comfort and sense of relief that they seemed to feel when they leave her—it was very moving to see that.
She is so simple, so modest and yet the power of what she is able to bring forth is truly extraordinary—a very, very moving experience.I was very struck by how much of what is generated, how much of the money that is mobilized, actually goes and benefits directly those in need. This is remarkable. This is remarkable. It was very striking for me how she managed to get that formula right.

She acts on the spontaneous and instinctive. And that has given a lot of speed and momentum, cut out the bureaucracy, and made it possible to inspire people and to move with them to actually provide timely and quality support to those in need. This is a remarkable thing. And I think that international NGOs and UN agencies have something to learn from the work of Amma and what she has been able to build.

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