PM Modi lauds Mata's sanitation drive

KOLLAM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced the completion of  2,000 toilets throughout Kerala  by Mata Amritanandamayi Math  as part of its Rs 100-crore sanitation project in the state.  Mr. Modi  addressed  the gathering via video conferencing on the occasion of the 63rd birthday celebrations of Mata  at Amritapuri, Vallikkavu,  here. “Amma’s initiative on building toilets has been a great help in our Swachh Bharat programme. Amma has pledged to contribute Rs 100 crore towards sanitation efforts in Kerala. This includes the construction of 15,000 toilets for the poor. One year ago, Amma  donated Rs 100 crore  to the  ‘Namami Gange’ programme,”  Mr Modi said.

RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat distributed certificates on the completion of toilets to 50 representative families at the venue. Amritanandamayi,  in her birthday address,  stressed the need for  humanity to return to a lifestyle  in harmony with nature. “Environmental protection is one of the greatest issues facing mankind  today. If only we would walk along the path shown by our ancestors, we could  find solutions to the problems  in this area,” she said.  She also shared her concern over the terrorist activities taking place across the world.

“Terrorism has become one of humanity’s foremost problems, robbing society of its peace. Statistics show that around 1,200 large-scale terrorist attacks have taken place in various parts of the world in 2016 alone,” she added. Swami Amritaswa-rupananda Puri performed her ‘padapuja’  marking the commencement of the birthday celebrations when a slew of humanitarian activities were announced.  

The Math presented certificates to the poor people for 400 free surgeries at Amrita Institute and certificates of provision of water to various rural villages in Bihar, Uttarakhand and Andhra Pradesh along with launching many other acts of charity,  including a mass wedding of 54 couples. Prof. P.J. Kurien, deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha, in his speech requested  Mr  Mohan Bhagavat to recommend to the government to consider Mata Amritanandamayi for Bharat Ratna award. Union Transport  minister Nitin Gadkari,    Minister of State for AYUSH  Shripad Yashoo Naik   and Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh were present  at the function. Governor Justice P. Sathasivam awarded the 2016 Amrita Keerti Puraskar to Ambalapuzha Gopakumar for his outstanding contributions to spiritual, philosophical and culture literature.