Appreciating the efforts of the Foundation, the Prime Minister expressed that political parties which benefit from corruption and black money, would have to take the lead in eliminating the malady. He said that the citizens must collectively raise their voice in favour of representatives, who are ethical and free from taint. Towards this, Dr Sreedharan suggested formation of an electoral reforms commission.

The Prime Minister also spoke about full utilization of technologies like egovernance to eliminate petty corruption from various agencies, such as Police, Land Dept., Tax Dept., Municipal corporations, which are citizens’ direct interface with the Government.

The Prime Minister said that if FRNV could create about a hundred motivated and committed people in each of the main cities in India, and inspire them to work for the Nation’s good, many of the ills of our society could be eliminated.

      Dec 22. Poojya Swamiji was the Chief Guest during the foundation-stone-laying function for the 56th Anganwadi (play-school for children) of Paralam Panchayat at Venginissery, Thrissur. Poojya Swamiji lit the lamp and addressed the simple rural gathering.

      Jan 17. Bharathiya Institute of Political Science, Thrissur, invited Poojya Swamiji to address a group of students at “Vivekodayam Boys’ School”, on “Jeevita Moolya Poshanam” (Nurturing the values of life). Poojya Swamiji urged the students to develop three basic qualities: “desha-sneham, svabhimanam and nirbhayatvam – love for the country, self-respect, and fearlessness.”

      Geet¡ Tattva Sameeksh¡: The 14th Thrissur Annual Geeta Tattva Sameeksha was inaugurated on Jan 18, by Justice Sri P N Ravindran of the Kerala High Court, Ernakulam.

In his brief inaugural address, Justice Sri Ravindran said that the Thrissur people should consider themselves greatly blessed and fortunate that they were able to listen to the highly enlightening exposition of Bhagavadgeeta by Poojya Swami Bhoomananda Tirthaji Maharaj for the fourteenth year in succession. He said that such expositions are bound to bring about benevolent changes in the life of the listeners.

Sri Therambil Ramakrishnan, MLA, presided over the function. Dr V Ramankutty welcomed the gathering and Prof Devanarayanan expressed vote of thanks.

      45th Jamshedpur Jñana Yajña & Programmes in Kolkata: Poojya Swamiji along with Ma and Nutan Swamiji will leave the Ashram on Feb 10. Halting at Kolkata for three days (Contact: Sri Partha Sarathi Biswas (98311 69474); Sri SR Bhowmik 033 – 23347206), they will reach Jamshedpur on Feb 14. In Jamshedpur, Poojya Swamiji will be hosted at 26 Straight Mile Road (Entry from A Road East), Northern Town. Details of the programmes were published in the January issue. Contact at Jamshedpur: Sri RS Tiwari (0657) 2302409; Sri S Sengupta 9431303590; Smt Rumni Sengupta 9431184333, Sri V Narendran (0657) 2306980.

Poojya Swamiji’s devotees and the friends of FRNV in Jamshedpur have organized a half-day seminar on Feb 07 in the Michael John Auditorium, to discuss the formation of the Jamshedpur chapter of FRNV. Principals, teachers and students from about 40 schools and 5 colleges will participate to delineate the activities to be taken up on Value-education in schools and colleges. Poojya Swamiji will formally inaugurate the chapter on February 24.