Swami Satyamitranand Giri, an octogenarian from Haridwar, who has followers across the globe, is planning to start more service-oriented programmes in the coming months. This is in addition to the number of service activities that are already going on through the Samanvaya Kutir and Satyamitranand Foundation founded by him.
In an interview with CE, the Swami who is Chennai till December 31, said recently, that he had started a programme for children who had lost their parents in the Kedarnath tragedy in June when the flash floods and landslides killed many. So far, 20 children have been adopted by the Swami’s ashram.
“They are all around 12 years old. The ashram will provide education, boarding and lodging and everything they need for about eight years till they can stand on their own leg,” he said.
The Swami further said his ashram had identified many villages in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan where there was a lot of scope for service activities. Initially, two districts in Madhya Pradesh — Ujjain and Ratlam and two districts in Rajasthan — Jodhpur and Kota would be selected.
Around 500 youth will engage themselves in this programme. On the first day they will clean up the surroundings in the villages and during the second day, there will be meditation and yoga classes. On the third and concluding day, there will be mass feeding where people from all walks would take part. In Rajasthan, the programme is likely to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.
The Swami is also planning to start a programme to protect cows. Already, around 2,000 people living in urban areas have come forward to extend their assistance to this lofty measure. “Those who don’t have faith in the scriptures to protect cow, can look at the other way….cow is beneficial to everyone in all possible ways without caste, creed and colour. Indeed, cow is secular,” the Swami said with a laugh.
He said 20 families could protect a cow by donating just `100 per month. The money would be given to a villager who would look after the welfare of cow. The villager could eke out his livelihood by selling cow’s milk, curd, etc.
On his recent visit to London and Monaco, the Swami said the people in these places are moving towards vegetarianism. Vegetarian societies there work vigorously. The members of these societies go door to door and explain the telling impact of vegetarianism in their life. The Swami said that in India also vegetarianism should become a movement.