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How does Ananda Marga’s relief wing, AMURT, operate and where is it active?

AMURT, the Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team, functions as the humanitarian relief wing of Ananda Marga, with AMURTEL as a parallel body especially oriented toward women and children. It is shaped by an ethos of service and universalism, expressing the spiritual ideal of serving all beings without distinction of race, religion, or nationality. In practice, this takes the form of both rapid disaster response and sustained community development, so that immediate compassion is joined with long-term responsibility. Its work is explicitly non-sectarian, and its projects are open to all, irrespective of belief or background. In this way, the spiritual vision of Ananda Marga is translated into concrete social action, where service to humanity is regarded as service to the divine.

Operationally, AMURT engages in emergency relief during natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and similar calamities, as well as in situations of conflict. Alongside this, it conducts long-term development projects that include healthcare, education, community development, food distribution, and nutrition programs. Its activities extend to running medical clinics, schools, vocational training centers, and various social service institutions such as orphanages and elderly care facilities. Water and sanitation projects are also part of its portfolio, reflecting an integrated approach to community well-being. The organization often coordinates with local governments, UN agencies, and other NGOs, and it relies on donations and grants to sustain its work.

Geographically, AMURT presents itself as a global network, active in many regions across the world. In Asia, it has significant operations in countries such as India, Bangladesh, Nepal, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand. In Africa, its presence includes Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, and Tanzania, where it undertakes relief and development initiatives suited to local conditions. In Latin America, its work extends to Venezuela, Brazil, Haiti, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, while in North America it is active in the United States and Canada. Various European countries also host AMURT activities, particularly in relation to disaster response and ongoing social projects. Through this wide-ranging presence, the organization seeks to embody a spiritually grounded commitment to upliftment wherever suffering and need are found.