Free Clean Water for the Poor

On 2 May 2007, MAM gave Rs. 3,300,000 [about $850,000 U.S.] to sponsor the provision of clean water to 7,100 families living beneath the poverty line in Chavara and Panmana Panchayats, Kollam District, Kerala. The water is taken from the Shamastamkotta Backwaters and purified.

Feeding the Poor

In Amma's youth, She often took rice and vegetables from Her own family's limited supply to feed starving neighbours. There were times when Amma even gave away gold earrings and bangles of her mother's in order to help those in desperate need. Although She was punished severely, Amma never would reveal that Her crimes were those of charity. Her compassion was unlimited and fought the bounds of Her material means. Today, with more resources at Her disposal, Amma has established a number of programmes to assist the hungry in getting enough to eat.One programme is the free rice distribution that takes place at the Palakkad ashram in northern Kerala. It is typical of the types of activities occurring at most of Amma's main ashrams in India.

In the mid 1990s, one of Amma's wealthy devotees asked Her what he should do with the interest he was earning on his money. She suggested he use it to buy rice for the poor. Soon he began donating 26 75-kg bags of rice each month to the Palakkad ashram. On the second Saturday of each month, all eligible participants receive one-and-a-half kilos of rice (worth about Rs. 25). There are currently 1,300 people enrolled in the programme.

The recipients live within a three-kilometre radius of the ashram and walk to collect the rice. In many cases, a child from the family is sent for this duty. For many of the recipients, making straw mats is the only available work. They live below the poverty line on Rs. 250 a month (approx. $6 US).

Nearly all the main ashrams have similar programs and offer free meals on a weekly basis. The Delhi ashram provides free meals every day of the week. Some of Amma's ashrams, like the one in Bombay, also provide milk for poor children. Currently there are 300 children enrolled in the Bombay ashram's free-milk programme. In all, M.A. Math feeds more than 50,000 people every month.

The ashrams also regularly provide clothing for the needy. Clothing is donated or purchased and then distributed. During Amma's 2001 birthday celebrations, the Amritapuri ashram gave away more than 1,000 saris.

Outside of these programmes, there are also special occasions when free meals are given, such as on Amma's birthday and when a Brahmasthanam temple is consecrated. And then of course there is Onam, the Kerala festival of thanksgiving, when Amma serves as many as 10,000 people a tasty meal Herself!

Such activities are not limited to India. In 1996, Amma proposed Her first charitable mission in the United States in the name Mother's Kitchen.