Ramakrishna Mission to give away branded apparel to poor on Swami Vivekananda’s birthday.

MANGALURU: With a view to celebrate birthday of Swami Vivekananda in a meaningful way, Ramakrishna Mission of Ramakrishna Math, well-known for social services, has hit upon a novel idea to extend its help to the economically poor.
On January 12, they will distribute branded shirts, pants and dresses to economically poor men and women residing in villages. The dress materials are given by ITC which is observing 'Mission Sunhera Kal’ as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility programme.The corporate entity has given required number of dresses to Ramakrishna Mission for distribution among the poor.
Regarding the idea behind the move, Swami Jitakamanandaji, secretary of Ramakrishna Mission said branded apparel is being handed out to poor with the sole intention that best should reach the economically backward. The ITC has entrusted this task to them as they have faith that the Mission would see that the right beneficiaries would be chosen.
They have instructed that while distributing the apparel a swami/ monk from the Mission should oversee the distribution. ITC has selected 75 centres of the Mission across India for this task. The total cost of this largesse is nearly Rs. 1.25 crore. As many as 25 villages in Puttur and Sullia Taluk which are considered as backward have been chosen, especially villages like Mandekolu, Yedamangala, Jalsoor have been selected.
The Mission has chosen Srikrishna Upadhyaya, a social worker, as co-ordinator for this mission. He identified these villages during the meeting with the Seers of the Math. Upadhyaya said that at first they formed a committee in each village which comprised of five prominent persons - three men and two women from that particular village. Since these villagers knew who were economically backward in their village they chose the needy. About 108 villagers - 56 men and 52 women in each village will get shirts, pants, t-shirts tops and leggings. These apparel will be distributed symbolically to villagers on Vivekananda Jayanti day and the rest will be given in the following days.
The Mission plans to distribute apparel in three villages every day till all the beneficiaries are covered.