Cuttack: Family is not always about blood. Sometimes it’s about who is there to hold your hand and support you, when you need it the most.
Setting such an example for the society is an an elderly woman of Cuttack who donated all her property to a rickshaw puller. She is Minati Patnaik of Sutahata area in the silver city.
Minati has written all her property in the name of a rickshaw puller, Budha Samal, who helped and stood by her in her difficult times. The property includes a three-storey building and all her jewellery, the 63-year-old woman told a local media channel.
Minati lost her husband in 2020 after a battle with cancer and six months later their daughter died of heart attack. Minati was left alone by her extended family members during the most trying times of her life.
It was rickshaw puller Budha and his family who stood by her and provided her with every little help she needed to survive, including emotional support.
Minati said the Budha has been serving the family for the last 25 years. He used to take her daughter to Ravenshaw College, in fact he was the family’s rickshaw puller. “The family’s trust in him and his dedication towards her family earned him the reward and I have not done any great service by giving away my property to them. They deserve it,” she said.
About her family’s reaction to her decision she said two of her three sisters protested but she decided to go ahead as planned. She fulfilled all the legal formalities to ensure rightful transfer of property on her death.
Budha’s family includes wife three children, two sons and one daughter, besides his parents. Now an owner of property worth crores of rupees, Budha said he and his family will serve Minati till his last breath. Budha and his wife shifted to Minati’s house four month’s back on her insistence, she added.
