Amritanandamayi Math plans 'Vidyamritam'

Bangalore, Feb 11 (UNI) Mata Amritanandamayi Math has will launch 'Vidyamritam, an education education for about 2,000 students from farming families who had been hit by the 'agrarian crisis' in the state.

Ramakrishnananda Puri Swamiji of the Math told newspersons here today that the scheme was part of Rs 200 crore plan to be introduced in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala, the most affected states by farmer suicides in the country.

He said the scheme had been already launched in Kerala for 3,000 students with a stipend of Rs 200 a month to complete their school education.

Mata Amritanandamayi would launch the scheme in Karnataka on February 14.

The scheme would cover more than one lakh students from all over the country in the near future, he said adding that the problem could not be solved through economic package alone.

''What is needed is social and spiritual interventions so that the farmers realise that suicide is not a way out,'' he said.

There was a need for personal counseling of the vulnerable people, he said.

UNI SIV RS BDP HT1632