Upon noticing a colony of bhangis, or "untouchables," Mr. Reddy mentioned that the government was distributing land to them. He asked whether ISKCON was engaged in any sort of social welfare work, because many people have asked him what our Society did to benefit others.

Prabhupada replied by asking him what he considered the best social welfare. When Mr. Reddy said serving the poor and the natives, Prabhupada told him, "Everyone is poor. Who is rich? First of all find out: Who is rich?" Srila Prabhupada went on to explain how everyone is poor because each of us must suffer disease, old age, and death. Adjustment of a person's material condition can be done by anyone, but ISKCON was established for a different purpose. "These things are being done by so many other people, and we are doing something which is ultimate. The hospital gives some medicine when there is some disease, but that does not mean there will be no disease. Can they guarantee that, 'I give you this medicine — no more disease?' We are giving that medicine — that no more disease. That is the best social work. As soon as you give up this body — tyaktva deham punar janma naiti — you'll have no more birth. And if you have no more birth, there will be no more death. And if you have no more birth, then there will be no more disease. This is our prescription. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti. Not that he is finished; he goes back to home, back to Godhead. This is our program."

From Transcendental Diary by Hari Sauri Prabhu