Over the past few years, northwestern India has suffered from an ongoing drought, and the situation deteriorated this year. Thus on Master’s instructions, fellow initiates from many countries travelled to the region in April to render aid, distributing relief materials at that time, and in June, helping villagers in the Barmer District of Rajasthan to build water tanks and consolidate wells. (Please refer to News Magazine No.144 for details.) In response to requests by local residents, fellow initiates returned to the area in July with an ample supply of seeds for the planting of crops.

Soon after their arrival, the volunteers were greeted by delightful rain showers from Heaven. Thick clouds gathered and the sky grew dark above Barmer. Then lightning flashed, brightening the heavens as peals of thunder roared across the sky. Soon, rain fell and continued for several days, bringing life back to the region’s moribund fields. Local residents saw bushes and trees turn green for the first time in more than four years after the debilitating drought, as the weather-worn faces of farmers beamed with happiness.

While Heaven bestowed rain on the thirsty land, fellow initiates promptly purchased seeds for the poor farmers in the districts of Barmer and Jaisalmer. With assistance from Mahila Mandar Barmer Agor (MMBA), a local organization, seventeen members of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association quickly distributed the seeds to the farmers, working continuously for three days to ensure that the supplies were received in time for sowing.

The volunteers conducted the allocations either in local villages or from distribution centers. Over three thousand farmers received packages of seeds of bajra (millet), mung beans, moth beans and cluster beans. The farmers showed great respect as they received their allotments and paid reverence to a photo of Supreme Master Ching Hai that was on display. In addition to the seeds, fellow initiates also provided the people with nectar for the spirit – Master’s sample booklets.

When fellow initiates visited the farmers a few days later, they learned that the seeds had been sown the day after they were received. In some villages, sprouts were already apparent, and in one field the seedlings had already grown five to ten centimeters tall!

The abundant rainfall before and after the distribution operation spurred the germination of the seeds, not only watering the fields but also filling up wells and underground water storage tanks that could sustain the villages for three years. Local residents thus deeply appreciated Master’s timely gifts!

Expenditures for Northwest India Agricultural Seeds
and Sample Booklets Contributed by Supreme Master Ching Hai

Description	Expenditure (in Rupees)	Receipt No.
Purchase of seeds for the Barmer District	1,180,170.00	B1 & B2
Purchase of seeds for the Jaisalmer District	115,798.00	B3
Transportation of seeds to various distribution centers	18,410.00	NIL
Plastic bags for seeds	2,890.00	NIL
Banners	2,000.00	NIL
Sample booklets	48,000.00	B4
Total                                                                                  1,367,268.00                                                                           (approx. US$29,983.95)

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Love in Action