AMRITA NIDHI VOICES - VARANASI

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OM AMRITESWARYAI NAMAH

 

Link: http://www.amritapuri.org/social/nidhi/nidhi4.htm

 

Amrita Nidhi Voices - Varanasi

 

Tuesday, 23 March 2004 -- Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

 

It was way past midnight in the holy city of Varanasi when they

entered the darshan line, most aided by walking sticks. In fact,

they seemed as old as the city itself: a disoriented-looking lady

with incredibly thick glasses, a handicapped woman dragging herself

forward by her hands, a blind man guided by his almost-blind wife.

They had been brought for Amma's darshan from the village of

Kanchampurkiri, not far from Allahabad, by one of Amma's devotees.

 

When the first old lady came for darshan, Amma had to bend way over

in order to take her into Her arms, as she was suffering from

somewhat of a hunchback. The next woman had to be lifted. All around

tears were flowing. Amma then called one of Her swamis to come and

record their names, addresses and stories, so they could be

considered for Amrita Nidhi, the Math's free pension programme.

 

Through Amrita Nidhi, the Mata Amritanandamayi Math has been

providing to India's poor since 1998, initially in South India.

During Amma's in 2004 North India Tour, the programme expanded to

eight other Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh. Beneficiaries

receive enough to ensure they get at least one good meal a day.

 

Angani is around 60; she does not know her exact age. She has been

a widow for more than 20 years. After her husband's death, she

worked in the fields, harvesting grain and coriander. The long hours

in the sun have aged her skin. Since she has lost most of her

eyesight, she cannot work anymore. Daily, she now goes out to beg

for food. If she is lucky she gets enough for one meal a day. Her

daughter does not come to see her anymore; her husband forbids it.

Angani cries as she talks about how she has to beg for food; "If

only I could get my eyes back"

 

Sahadev is completely blind. His wife, Ranjani, who is also poor-

sighted, guides him. She begs for food on the street. "We eat every

other day," she says. "There is no more." She starts crying as She

is telling her fate. They have one son. He drives a rickshaw and has

six children. "What can he give us?" she asks.

 

"He hardly makes enough to support his family." Ranjani starts

crying, and then Sahadev starts talking. He has four more daughters,

but they all live with their husband's families. They have not seen

them for years and have lost all contact. "It is because we cannot

invite them. We cannot even offer them tea or food. How can we

receive our daughters then?" Sahadev breaks down and buries his face

in his turban.

 

Maana is 55 years old. She is handicapped and has been a widow for

the past five years. Her husband was also handicapped, and they were

used to a life of begging. Since her sister's death, Maana also has

to care for her mentally retarded niece. They are entitled to a

government food ration because of their handicaps, but it is

distributed through the village chief, she says, and he gives it to

his own family.

 

Sukrana lives with her son. He supports his mother and himself with

the few rupees he makes in the cotton mill. "It is not enough to

live on, so I have to go out begging. If I beg for eight hours,

maybe I have 10 rupees; this will give us two good meals."

 

Sahjina is 85 years old. She still works everyday, seven days a

week. From early morning to the late evening she washes vessels and

pots in a local restaurant. She earns Rs. 150 a month. She earns so

little because she cannot work very hard anymore; so her boss

lowered her salary.

 

Panchu works in a shop that sells rice and grains. She sits in a

corner all day removing small stones from the rice. For this, her

boss pays her only in food; sometimes only half a meal when he feels

she has not worked hard enough.

 

 

Once their stories are verified by the Ashram, Panchu, Sahjina,

Sukrana, Maana, Ranjani, Sahadev and Angani will be entitled to be

part in the Amrita Nidhi pension programme, which will eventually

benefit over 50,000 people.

 

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AMMA SHARANAM