Relief Activities by Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission
A Brief Report (1 April – 30 September, 2021)
Following the onset of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic last year and the consequent dastardly effect of its second wave this year, people have been struggling to cope with varied challenges. In addition to Covid, the cyclones ‘Yaas’ and ‘Tauktae’ and floods triggered by incessant rains in some parts of Assam, Bihar, West Bengal and Gujarat caused extensive damage to life and property.
In this hour of need, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, plunged into massive relief operations through its centres spread across the country; we have undertaken relief services in 5 other countries outside India. Our flood relief work in Purba and Paschim Medinipur districts is still in progress.
As per the need during the second surge of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission widened the scope of its relief operations by starting Covid-care centres, vaccination camps, lending ambulances to the service of people, providing oxygen cylinders, distributing personal protective kits, giving spiritual counselling through online classes, and so on.
Some of our centres in the states of West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu conducted rehabilitation work during this period by renovating and reconstructing houses, building toilet blocks, providing building materials, distributing tailoring machines, cycle rickshaws, rickshaw-vans, etc. Also, we have undertaken the project of constructing four non-formal-school-cum-shelter-houses in the districts of Howrah and South 24 Parganas in the wake of the cyclone Amphan. Further, as a part of the Cyclone Bulbul rehabilitation project, we have completed the construction of 44 two-room houses, 2 buildings for running free coaching centres, 1 two-storied hostel building and 38 washrooms in the Sundarbans area of South 24 Parganas district.
We stood by needy people by conducting distress and disturbance reliefs also. When several parts of South Africa witnessed large-scale arson and looting in July, our centres there conducted relief operations by distributing dry rations, health and hygiene items, clothes, blankets and other necessaries among the affected families.
During the period from 1st April to 30th September 2021, we spent Rs. 22 crore for our relief services. In the last Fiscal Year (2020 to 2021) an amount of Rs. 39 crore was spent on our relief services.
However, the relief work has only been possible on account of the benevolent gesture made by thousands of common men, our devotees, well-wishers, admirers, friends and people from different walks of life. We are grateful to them for their continued support of our relief services. We appeal to our generous brethren to come forward with their mite to enable us to help the affected people more and more during the days ahead.