UN Grants SPecial Consultative Status to M.A. Math

UN Grants Special Consultative Status to M. A. Math
July 24, 2005 New York

On July 24, 2005, the United Nations announced the distinguished award of Special UN consultative status to Mata Amritanandamayi Math (M.A. Math), a leader in tsunami relief efforts and humanitarian activities in India. The Math is among 30 Indian NGO’s to ever receive formal UN affiliation in India. This important partnership will provide opportunities for joint collaboration, most notably in disaster relief efforts and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, Vice Chairman of Mata Amritanandayami Math, stated, “The plight of the tsunami victims has touched us all. M.A. Math was immediately able to deliver relief to the tsunami victims, and has a leading role in the relief efforts in India. The United Nations, along with many other organizations and NGOs, has also provided tremendous support in Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. Due to the consultative status granted to the Math by the UN, we can now join forces with the world renowned body in a collaborative effort to bring continued relief to those affected by the tsunami disaster.”
With branch ashrams throughout India and centers worldwide, M. A. Math & affiliates are focused on sustainable development in the following areas with a vast array of charitable efforts: Social / Economic / Housing Development; Education; Healthcare Delivery; and Environmental improvement. M.A. Math was founded by the world-renowned humanitarian and spiritual leader, Mata Amritanandamayi.
A past Director-General of UNESCO, an agency of the United Nations, Mr. Felix Martin, sees in Amma the “foundations of the future world we are committed to make.”
Most recently, the organization has been focused on relief efforts in the wake of the 2004 tsunami disaster. The Math received international press for its generous pledge of 1 billion rupees ($23 Million USD) to rebuild homes that were completely destroyed throughout Southern India; 6200 homes are being built now in Southern India, Andoman & Nicobar islands and Sri Lanka. Along with the reconstruction of homes, the Math is providing healthcare services, the distribution of free daily meals and essential household items, free training and employment, orphan adoption, and various forms of physical and psychological support to the victims. For fishermen affected in the coastal areas, boats, fishing nets and boat engines are being given to restore the livelihood of tsunami affected lives. At the request of the Sri Lankan government, Amma visited to help the devastated nation through the construction of homes, pension plans, and other efforts.
Unlike many organizations, M. A. Math has minimal administrative overhead; thus, every dollar is used in the service of those who need it most.
It is the Math’s intention to work with various UN agencies to further the tsunami rehabilitation projects & other broad-based humanitarian relief efforts around the world.
The U.N. Information Center in Delhi offers many capabilities for M.A. Math’s collaboration plans. M. A. Math will investigate the possibilities to partner as a grassroots implementer in the following UN agencies: OCHA’s humanitarian efforts, UNICEF, UNDP, UNIFEM, and other subsidiary bodies of the UN. M.A. Math’s intention is to broaden the extent of the tsunami rehabilitation work being done within India and the global community at large.

For more information, please contact: Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri
Organization Name: Mata Amritanandamayi Math
Tel. Number 91-984- 289 -6399 Fax. Number 91- 476 – 289 - 767
amritswarup@yahoo.com & mam@amritapuri.org
Website URL www.amma.org & www.amritapuri.org