Urging the youth to come forward to conserve water, forest and energy, Mata Amritanandamayi said that a policy that aimed at compulsory community service at school-level should be considered.
Addressing a gathering on Lawspet helipad ground on Monday night, Amritanandamayi said, “If all schools devote at least two periods a week for afforestation sessions and cleanliness, we will be able to develop service mentality in the minds of children at an impressionable age.” She added that the activities would create awareness of the need to protect environment.
She said that the modern society was becoming increasingly devoid of spiritual values, and the youth were spending their free time on the internet watching pornography. She said that youngsters should live among the poor to understand their problems and find solutions. “In this way, we can awaken compassion in our youth and uplift the poor. If retirees similarly dedicate a year, it will have an even greater impact on our country,” she said.
She said that the responsibility of instilling values among children was on the parents. She said that the government, notwithstanding laws and punishments for sex-offences, could not help attain change unless children were taught to inculcate values.
Mata sat through Monday night till Tuesday morning (starting at 8.30 pm on Monday to 8.15 am on Tuesday) to give darshan and blessings to devotees.
She left for Chennai on Tuesday morning.