I do not want to spend Diwali wearing new clothes and eating sweets when thousands of people in Andhra Pradesh have lost everything in the floods. Kurnool, Cuddapah, Mantralayam, large parts of Vijayawada, Guntur is under water. I am sure that a lot of middle class and lower income group will be in maximum trouble - they would not have taken any insurance - many would have lost their lives savings - it is very sad when nature devasts the complete area.
I know that Ramakrishna Mission is always in the forefront in flood relief work wherever it happens. I went to Hyderabad centre of Ramakrishna Math and enquired in the office whether I can participate in any Shram Dhan! They said that they do not want ladies to come for such work as they cannot provide them with safe place to stay in the night. They specifically do not take ladies as volunteers as they had lots of trouble in the past managing a mixed team of volunteers! Hence a big no!
I wanted to know whether I can do any work in the back office by way of sending mails, collecting donations and maintaining accounts etc. He gave a look at me and said that they do not need women for any work! I asked what they will do in case Sarada Devi herself comes to volunteer - he said that even She will not be allowed as they have had enough trouble with ladies!
He gave me SBI a/c number of Ramakrishna Math, Cuddapah centre for sending money for the flood relief work. I wonder now what I can do to do some real front-line work instead of just giving some money and forgetting it!
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