Odisha woman donates property worth Rs 1 crore to rickshaw puller

An elderly woman in Odisha’s Cuttack donated all of her property and other assets to a rickshaw puller in recognition of 25 years of service to her and her family.

Minati Patnaik, 63, of Sutahat, has donated her three-story house, gold ornaments, and all her possessions to Budha Samal, a rickshaw puller who has been serving her family for over two decades.

Minati considered donating all of her property to the poor rickshaw puller family, who had served Minati and her husband for 25 years, after losing her husband to kidney failure last year and living with her daughter Komal who died of cardiac arrest recently.

Minati Pattnaik told India Today, “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.

My relatives have enough property, and I’ve always wanted to give mine to a poor family.

“I decided to legally donate everything to Budha and his family so that no one harasses them after my death,” Minati added.

He used to drive my daughter to Ravenshaw College. He was the family’s rickshaw puller. 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,” she said

However, two of Minati’s three sisters objected to her decision to give away her property to the rickshaw puller and her family, but Minati was steadfast and determined to carry out her plan. She followed all legal procedures to ensure that her property was properly transferred after her death.

In addition to his parents, Budha has a wife and three children, two sons and one daughter.

Budha Samal said, “I was taken aback when Maa [Minati] told me about her decision to will her property. I’ve been serving this family for more than two decades and will continue to serve Maa [Minati] until my death.

“I am overjoyed that Maa has made such an important decision that will have an impact on my and my family’s lives. I can now live under one roof with my family,” Budha Samal said.

Budha quit his job pulling rickshaws two years ago after Minati asked him to, and he moved to Minati’s house with his wife and children four months ago at her request.

Budha Samal’s wife told : “We had always considered Minati as our own mother, so my husband and I, as well as my children, were all at her disposal. We are relieved that my family and Maa, will be able to stay in this house.”