Amma to launch initiatives for north India in Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 13 (UNI) Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, popularly known as Amma, will arrive in the national capital on Thursday to launch some of the charitable initiatives of her Amritanandamayi Math for north India.

Major among them would be a monthly pension scheme for destitute women -- Amritanidhi. About 50,000 women are already being covered under the scheme, Rasamrita Chaitanya, the Math representative for north India told media persons here today.

A public reception for the "hugging saint" as she is known to hug each one of her devotees at prayer meetings, would be organised at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium.

A mass wedding would also be organised by the Math.

The spiritual leader is expected to announce plans for a new campus for Amrita University in Delhi. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit will be the chief guest at the function.

Hero Honda Chairman Sunil Munjal, cricketer Kapil Dev, singers Rabbi, Shanker Sahney and Anoop Jalota will also attend the programme.

The Math has a long list of philanthropic projects to its credit including the adoption of three villages in Anjar district after a major earthquake hit Gujarat in 2001, providing relief supplies and construction of permanent houses for the victims of the tsunami in Nagapattinam, adoption of three villages in the Uri region of Jammu and Kashmir for reconstruction after it was hit by a devastating earthquake last year.

It is also involved in various community development and educational projects.

UNI YA NK HT1755