A hidden agenda?

Sir, - Mother Teresa, whose beatification is under process, devoted her life in caring for the terminally ill, handicapped and destitutes, particularly those stricken with leprosy. She was awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 and was conferred India's highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, in 1980. She formed the organisation, Missionaries of Charity, which is now spread over the entire globe. In some quarters it is felt that the purpose of the Missionaries of Charity is, after the demise of its founder, not restricted to humanitarian efforts and there is also a latent inducement of conversion. This has been refuted by the organisation.

In a recent case here in Hyderabad, an apparently innocuous ad appeared in a local newspaper inviting applications for training health workers by Mother Teresa's Home in Malkajgiri. A handsome stipend was offered with an 18-month course and hostel accommodation. The trained health workers were guaranteed jobs in nursing profession. The training session was to commence from September 2000.

A young student of Intermediate class studying in Dr. G. S. Melkote Memorial Girls' College saw the ad and applied and was promptly asked to join, even without the requisite Class X TC. She reached the institution in Malkajgiri on the morning of September 8 and within no time was provided with a set of sparkling white uniform, saree, blouse, white canvas shoes and a golden cross on a chain which she was asked to wear with the uniform even though she is a non-Christian. The lectures on health care could not be sufficient reason for insisting that a cross be worn by non-Christian trainees. The matter concerning this candidate assumes certain poignancy as the trainee's mother is hospitalised after an emergency operation, and needs financial assistance.

Such instances of financial allurement to religious beliefs of any community need to be discouraged.

Mustafa K. Sherwani,

Hyderabad

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