Haribol prabhus:
I read a story recently about how there are 16,000-20,000 widows in Vrndavana who are very, very poor. They have no access to medical care. It seems they were pushed out of their homes by relatives after their husband's death and had no place to go.
The story said that they have to sing bhajanas 5-8 hours per day to get a small plate of prasadam and around 4 rupees.
Even though they ended up in Vrndavana for various reasons, they are devotees of Krsna.
I would like to find a bona-fide organization to send money to in order to help these women. I heard that there are many bogus organizations who keep most of the money sent to help these people.
Does anyone know of a good organization that is actually helping to alleviate this suffering?
Hare Krsna!
Your servant,
Prayag das
Replies
the root of the problem is non responsible kids. Why they kick them out when they get old?
Because of that to distribute proper knowledge of Bhagavatam is foremost rather than food. And when children become Vaishnavas they won't do such like cruel things. Because of that Devotees distribute Srila Prabhupada's books.
Which will melt stone hearts into butter.
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Another thing why not to do bhajan for 5-8 hours in this age? It is Krishna's care. But it is true they should be taken care by someone.
As i know Krishna Balaram Mandir distributes breakfast and lunch Prasadam to all. Also in Radha Kund Jagannatha Mandir does that.
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Also in New Vrindavan Devotees started Vanaprastha ashram and they collect special donation for that ashram. But Matajis who stay there fully engaged with service.
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Your servant,
Hare Krishna Prabhuji. Dandavat Pranam. All glories to SrilaPrabhupada
Firstly I would like to salute your concerns. We all claim ourselves as devotee but rarely think of the vaishnavas who are living a tough life.
Few things that really make us sad when we see widows (most of them are Vaishnavas) in Vrindavan, Mathura, Mayapura and other Holy Dham are without shelter and food Whereas in Iskcon we get warm shelter and oppulent food. I really feel myself hard hearted when I see I am very proud of being identifying myself as a Vaishnava , taking all the advantage of material comfort whereas old Vaishnava mothers are begging on street. I feel myself very arrogant when I go to Govindas and bring oppulent sweets for my parents where as a old Vaishnava mother in her old age begging in a crowded train.
Indeed really most of us in Iskcon practicing devotional service very oppulently which sometimes make us forget there are vaishnavas who has no shelter, no food, their only shelter is Krishna whereas we have many shelters other than Krishna.
I really feel that Iskcon should help the poor Vaishnavas particualrly of Holy dham, apart from preaching to higher middle class, reach families. Where I really appreciate Ramakrishna mission in this area, though being a mayavadi organization they are serving vaishnavas by feeding them.
Chanting is very nice when we have food in belly. So we should try to help those who are taking Krishna's name with fire in belly.
We should extend our vision beyond the wall of Iskcon and try to help all the vaishnavas who really need care.
This all are my opinion, what I have felt, please forgive me if I hurt someone.
Your aspiring Servant
Hari Bol
http://www.rkmsvrind.org/
MAITRI India
J-92 A.R.D. Complex
R.K. Puram, Sector 13
New Delhi 110066, India
Telefax: +91-11-2412-2692
Website: www.maitriindia.org
Hare Krishna,
as I mentioned these two organizations helps widow matajis and provides food,cloths & other items in vrindavan. You can see the links.
haribol