“BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha arrived soon after the earthquake and Tsunami strike. The Sanstha and its volunteers worked tirelessly in the relief camps to provide succour to the affected people. They also distributed essential items and medicines for the victims and sent materials to outer islands. The BAPS volunteers have done a commendable job by providing timely relief. I place on record my sincere appreciation of the work done by the BAPS volunteers in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and thank the Sanstha for sending volunteers to the Islands in this hour of need.”
Prof. Ram Kapse
Lieutenant Governor
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
“Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) an NGO headed by HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj has sent 20 volunteers from Kolkata centre for relief work in the earthquake and tsunami hit area in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. They have performed a wonderful job by supporting the inmates in the Relief Camp as well as in the remote areas in South Andaman. The volunteers have performed a commendable job by providing timely help to the affected victims. The effort put by them is commendable and appreciable. I extend all the best to the team and hope they will continue to involve themselves in such humanitarian activities in future.”
Gyanesh Bharathi
Deputy Commissioner, District of Andaman
“Most people think only about distributing food and nothing else. Your organisation (BAPS) thinks about the person as a whole and the basic essential needs. You are the only organisation here that has given people bathing soaps, washing powder, hair oil and other essential items. It speaks so much about you people and how much you care. Well done and keep up the excellent work.
“I am glad that your esteemed organisation has ventured to help out the Tsunami affected victims of these islands by deputing your volunteers with necessary aids in the form of BAPS kit consisting of all the basic & essential requirements of day to day life, like blanket, saree, lungee, books, biscuits, Glucon-D, electrol, toilet items, pain relief, etc.”
Raj Kumar
Director of Education, Andaman &
Nicobar Administration
“We thank BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha for the medicines which were extremely vital and which we received just at the right time.”
Dr. Nimita Md. Ali
Director of Health Services
Andaman & Nicobar Administration
“BAPS has sincerely worked to help the affected. The relief kitchen feeding people with hot meals has been appreciated by everyone.”
R. Venkatesan
District Collector
Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu
“BAPS has done a wonderful job by providing relief to the Tsunami victims in this district. You have really helped in every respect.”
P. Velusami
Additional Collector
Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu
“There is widespread devastation and we are grateful to BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, its sadhus and volunteers for distributing so many household items today to 352 affected families from 7 villages of Kanniyakumari District. On behalf of the people I again thank the organisation for the noble work they are doing.”
P. Selvarajan
Project Officer
District Rural Development Agency
District Kanniyakumari
“BAPS has extended physical and, most importantly, emotional relief to Tsunami victims.”
The Hindu
English Daily, 16 Jan. 2005
“The only bit of relief we had received consisted of old and used clothes. We were forgotten and left in the corner. You have given us life again by given us these items. Your concern has deeply touched our hearts. We can not forget what you have done for us.”
Fazuludeen Aditha Begam
Housewife, Village: Kottakuppam
“The people of this village are extremely happy. You have done a lot for them. When most people are celebrating Christmas and the New Year in merry making, you have come from afar so that we can eat, wear and have a roof over our heads.”
Father Joseph Paul
Church of the Holy Family
Village: Keezhputtupet
“BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha is the only organisation providing hot meals in this area. The work is really commendable. 5,000 meals a day is no small task. The food too is pure, fresh, tasty and nutritious. It is exactly what these people need today. It is also very thoughtful of BAPS to change the menu so that these people don’t get bored with the same food.”
N. Kanagasabai
Govt. Primary Health Officer
“BAPS is a noble organisation that serves people irrespective of caste, class, creed, community or religion. Its work provides inspiration for all of us.”
J. Moses
CEO, Chardep NGO
Nagercoil, Dist. Kanniyakumari
“We needed a medical camp like this and BAPS has come forward and done a wonderful job. They also distributed notebooks, pens, pencils and packets of biscuits free to all the children. On behalf of all the children and teachers here, we are deeply thankful to the organisation.”
V. Subramanian
Headmaster
“We were worried about the children. We didn’t know what we would do if the children fell ill. But we are now relieved that BAPS doctors have come to our villages and have checked the children.”
Gangadharan
Parent, Pattipullam Kuppam
“What did we have? We were on the road with nothing. You (BAPS) gave us life. You looked after us like a mother looks after her child.”
Srinivasan
Village leader of Nemmeli Kuppam
“Our biggest worry was food, but BAPS has taken that worry away from us. We are all really grateful to the volunteers of BAPS who have been lovingly serving food to us twice a day from the day of the Tsunami... There are a lot of people and organisations coming here to give some kind of relief and aid but it is really the hot meals that have really been important to us.”
P. Subramaniam
Fisherman, New Kalpakkam