Amritanandamayi Mutt to launch project for suicide preveniton

Thiruvananthapuram, July 30 (UNI) Renowned spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi today announced two innovative projects to prevent suicide by debt-ridden farmers and their families.

Farmers in Maharashtra (Vidharba), Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, where the failure of crops and the unbearable burden of debt lead to suicide by farmers, would benefit from the projects, a release by the Mata Amritanandamayi Mutt said.

It said free education would be provided to 30,000 children all over India as part of the first project. The children of farmers below poverty line or children who were forced to discontinue their education due to lack of funds, would receive priority.

Children who lost their parents or were abandoned by them, would also be considered under the project. Children of all castes between the ages of 10 and 15 who were studying in government schools would be eligible to apply for this project. Such children would receive a stipend every month to complete their education subject to their performance in studies.

Initially, 60 per cent of the children from Kerala and remaining 40 per cent of the children from other states would be taken up.

Those who are already receiving funds from governmental or non-governmental agencies would not be eligible for these benefits.

Subsidiary to the project, the Mutt was planning other awareness campaigns, including programmes to inculcate values. A newsletter containing articles, stories and discussion forums to aid in the intellectual and mental growth of these children would be circulated amongst the selected 30,000 students. Special camps for advanced education and symposiums on natural conservation and environmental hygiene would be conducted.

Mata Amritanandamayi said, ''Yet another generation should not become slaves of emotional weakness like suicide. They should understand that they need to develop self-confidence. The future generation should have the mental strength to face life's challenges.'' She said an expert panel from the Mutt would study the causes of the increase in suicide rates amongst the farmers.

Along with this educational programme for the children, the Mutt decided to initiate another project to give training in cottage industries to 5,000 women from agricultural families. Upon receiving their training, women would also be given the necessary capital to start businesses in their respective areas of training. The Mutt was also considering discussing with both the nationalised and scheduled banks to provide loans for women who already had established businesses, to help for expanding them.

The Mutt would be appointing Committees to find appropriate candidates for both these projects. Children and women belonging to the families of distressed farmers from various states in India would be selected only after a detailed scrutiny, she added.

UNI