How to practically help the people of Tamilnadu affected by rain in Chennai?

Hi,

Rains in Tamilnadu and specifically Chennai has affected lives of thousands of people in the city and several villages in Cuddalore, kanchipuram and Chengalpattu districts. I previously wrote about an article about how I spent few hours remembering Shirdi Saibaba to protect the people of Chennai. You can read the article in the link below.

Tried to chant for the people of Chennai

Prayers to the Nature is not new to me. I created StarSai in 2004 just before Tsunami when I printed posters of Saibaba with the quotes

“Give food to the hungry, water to the thirsty and clothes to the naked, then God will be pleased ” .

You can read about it in ClimateChangeTalk.com

People in Tamilnadu and other parts of India are worried about the situation but personally, I did not do anything for my own Men, Women and Children. I live in Coimbatore and all I do is praying Saibaba to keep people safe.

When the rain stopped, I thought everything will be fine and life will come back to normal. The past 2 days when I hear news about heavy rains in Chennai and how people are suffering, I wanted to do something practically about it. I wish to go there and do something but my parents will worry a lot as if I am going to loose my life draining in water. I don’t want to start another argument at home. So I am left with only one option. My prayers and my writings. While I believe prayers can move mountains, I want to do something practically.

I believe many youngsters and elderly people are already serving physically by helping in the rescue effort, giving food packets, providing accommodation, giving clothes , medicines etc. Apart from people who are practically helping, people like me are simply watching photos and videos trying to analyze what we can do. All I could do is contribute little money joining my friends at office to send some stuff to Chennai through some organization in Coimbatore.

I wanted to do something for the people of Chennai and other villages in Tamilnadu. So started from office, When to Saibaba temple and reached home thinking what I can do? My Ma was sad watching the news as my aunt and uncle had told them they are going to sleep in neighbors home in first floor as water might get into house if the downpour continues tonight.

Anyway, I did a simple infographic to spread good messages and also inspire everyone to participate in helping the people of Tamilnadu and especially Chennai.

1. Help people to get home safe

Please have some patience on road both inside the city and in various towns and villages of Tamilnadu in national highways. Everyone will be in hurry to reach their home safe. Some people will be seeking for space in trains and buses to reach their hometown else where in Tamilnadu. So please be kind to everyone especially elders and children. Give some space for everyone to travel. Also, if people are not in a safe zone, help them reach to safer place.

2. Give Food for few more days

Giving food for the needy is essential and many are already doing it. Apart from this, check for people who’s house may not be clean enough to occupy even after the rain subsided. Try to help these families as much as you can.My humble request is this – Do not stop doing good deeds when the media hype about “Chennai rains” gets over. Poor people might need help for hygienic food at least few more days.

3. Give clothes, Books and School Bags

I saw a photo of a poor Mother in a village near Vadalur who was drying her kids note books in Sun light since all the books were drenched by water which entered their hut. My heart melted when I saw the photo. Kindly do something after Chennai rains. Visit near by Government school and request them if you can distribute books/pens. If its not required, ask them what these kids need most? I believe a School bag to 10 kids will be a good deed too if you can’t afford much.

4. Let’s learn to live in harmony with Nature

When someone is in pain, we must not tell them that they ignored nature and now facing this problem. Its not them. Its all of us put together who ignore nature and lived our own life. So let us learn to live in harmony with nature and do little we can to protect “Mother Earth”.

Its only one beautiful Earth and we must pass it on safe to generations to come for the next 1000’s of years.

The real wealth you give your children and grand children is not your house or bank balance. Its this “Earth”.

If interested, Share this post with your friends because I believe they might be inspired to do something practically. Many are already doing it and this story is dedicated to them.

Its 1.20 at night and I have been working on this article for few hours. Many people and I myself ask what’s the big deal in praying for others. I agree. May be,nothing if you thing its nothing.

But subconsciously what we actually mean when we say that we will pray for you  is “We Love You and we Care for you”

Prayers are an expression of telling “We Care for You”

Hugs from Coimbatore to every one of my Men,Women and Children who felt a single drop of rain that would have not fallen on them.

Sending warmth from the heart of every Indian

Sai, please stop the rain.

Save this beautiful country.

Venkat