The Housing Project (Amrita Kuteeram) Beneficiaries
March 1, 2004
Pune, Maharashtra
The Ajanta Nagar slum, located Pune is in the process of being rehabilated
by Mata Amritanandamayi Math along with assistance from the local
and central government. The project involves the construction of
27 blocks of four- and five-story apartment buildings where on top
of what used to be a nine-acre slum. Walking around with the brahmachari
in charge, we had a chance to speak to some of the slum's residents,
all of whom will receive new houses between May of 2004 and the
end of 2006.
 "This
brings so much hope to my heart. Now I know that if I die our children
will live in better homes. I am so grateful to Amma because She
gives them shelter," says Chabubai Diwar, a 60-year-old grandmother
who lives in one of the Ajanta Nagar slums. She currently still
lives in her slum dwelling, a stone house with a roof made from
rusty iron plates thatched with plastic bags. "My oldest son
was in an accident four years ago," she says. "He cannot
do a full days work anymore."
Her other son makes about Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,500 a month doing
odd construction jobs. Chabubai herself hand washes clothes in the
nearby neighbourhoods. It is hard work. It brings her an average
of Rs. 500 a month.
 For
the past 14 months, Baskar Sampad Tayde has lived with his wife,
Kamal, their three daughters and his all-but-blind mother in one
of the Ajanta Nagar transit houses set up by the Mata Amritanandamayi
Math. They will be among the first of the slum residents to move
into a new flat when the rehabilitation-project's first phase opens
in May 2004. Every day Baskar reports to a local contractor to find
out if there is any work available for him. No work means no money.
He gets work on the average of 10 to 15 days per month, making
around Rs. 200 to 250. Hardly enough as the cost of living here
is about Rs. 5,000 month.
 Nonat
Ganpath is 34. Since he broke his back in three-story fall he can
no longer work construction. With no medical insurance and no disability
pension, life is hard. He still suffers from quite a lot of pain
but is able to make Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,000 per month ironing. He lives
in the slum with his daughter, wife and mother. His wife earns money
sweeping the floor in the nearby hospital.
 Mullah
Shvik [the man with the white hat] used to work as an electrician
but lost his leg in an accident. He shares his slum house with his
wife, their daughter, and his son's family of four. The whole family
depends solely on the Rs. 2,000 the son makes as a construction
worker.
In one of the slum houses, Dr. Meenakshi runs a small health clinic.
Wanting to help Pune's poor, she set up the clinic after completing
her medical studies. "I want to work for my satisfaction,"
she says, "and here I really feel I can contribute." The
main health problems in the slum are hygiene and the seasonal fevers,
she says. Many children get sick from contaminated water, so there
are many cases of dysentery.
 Dr. Meenakshi
charges little for her work. A check-up costs Rs. 10; medication
is sold at its cost price. "I am very happy to see the renovation
work progressing so fast," she says. "It can really benefit
the people. Their life standard will surely change; now most of
them live in very unhygienic circumstances. The new houses invite
for more hygiene, but the people need to change too. I hope they
will change their lifestyle too."
As night falls in Ajanta Nagar, women start cooking. Many dress
up to go to the Pune ashram to listen to Amma sing bhajans and to
receive Her darshan. Renovating slums lies not only in the rebuilding
of houses; it is in the relieving of pain and suffering; it is in
the transformation of lifestyles and the providing of hope to people
who have been beaten around their entire life.
-- Kannadi
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Amma 
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