Minati Patnaik, a 63-year-old woman from Odisha, has set a benchmark of philanthropy by donating her property and all other assets to a rickshaw puller Budha Samal. Patnaik took this decision after losing her husband and daughter in quick succession.
The lady from Cuttack has donated her three-storey house, gold jewellery and other assets to Samal and his family. Samal has been working for Patnaik and her family selflessly for the past 25 years. Now he has been gifted assets worth more than Rs 1 crore for his decades of loyalty.
Addressing the media, Patnaik said, “After my husband and daughter died in quick succession, Budha Samal and his family have been taking care of me so I’m giving him my properties”.
“I was shattered and living in grief after the deaths of my husband and daughter at regular intervals. After my tragic loss, none of my relatives supported me. I was completely alone. However, this rickshaw puller and his family stood by me during my difficult times and took care of my health without expecting anything in return,” she added.
Budha Samal served as the family’s rickshaw puller and used to drive Minati’s daughter to college.
“My trust in him and his dedication to me and my family earned him the reward, and I did not do them any great service by giving them my property. They deserve it,” Patnaik said.
Two of Patnaik’s sisters had objected to this decision and the 63-year-old had to resort to legal procedures to ensure that her property would be transferred to Budha Samal after her death.
“I was taken aback when Maa (Minati Patnaik) told me about her decision to donate her property. I have been serving this family for more than two decades and will continue to serve Maa until my death,” said Samal.