Kollam (Kerala): President Ram Nath Kovind today launched Mata Amritanandamayi Math’s Rs 100 crore clean water initiative for rural India at the math headquarters in the coastal hamlet of Vallikkavu near here.

Kovind, who is on his maiden visit to the southern state after assuming office, inaugurated the ‘Jivamritam’ filtration system, envisaged to provide clean drinking water to 10 million villagers across the nation.

The programme was organised as part of the 64th birthday celebrations of spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, popularly known as ‘Amma’ among her devotees.

Launching the initiative in the presence of Amritanandamayi Devi, Kovind said the greatest service to the divine is service to fellow human beings.

Recalling his visit to Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre and the five battalions of the regiment in the border town of Leh, Kovind said, “Bravery of our soldiers on the one hand and the compassion, love and wisdom of our spiritual leaders on the other are the two thick pillars on which we rest our hopes.”

Referring to spiritual leaders and social reformers of Kerala like Adi Sankaracharya, Sree Narayana Guru and Ayyankali, the President said the state was one of the leading spiritual homes in our country.

The greatest service was to help the poor and downtrodden and enable them achieve their true potential, he said.

This included capacity building in the areas of health and education and ensuring that they get equal opportunities, Kovind said.

“Amma has worked precisely in these areas,” he said.

Kerala Governor Justice (Retired) P Sathasivam, state minister for tourism and devaswom Kadakampally Surendran, K C Venugopal, MP, and R Ramachandran, MLA, were also present at the function.

According to the Math authorities, the initial phase of the ‘Jivamritam’ project, aimed to install specially designed filtration systems for clean drinking water in 5,000 villages across country, was being completely funded by it.

Earlier, Sathasivam and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan were among those who received the President on his arrival at the Air Force Technical area of the airport at Thiruvananthapuram.