Nothing is tougher than not being able to provide for one’s family. With rising prices of vegetables and fruits, it is difficult for an average Indian to offer his family all the nutrition required. 54-year-old business man, Mohit Shah stands at a busy street with his jeep loaded with essential green vegetables to distribute among people who can’t afford them.
The thought of distributing vegetables came into his mind when his wife, Kinnariben, 53 found a group of labourers staring at her as she bought vegetables in the market. She found out that they were deprived of such vegetables. She returned home empty handed. She had given all the vegetables to them. She discussed this incident with her husband, and the two started distributing the vegetables. It has been 6 years since the two have been feeding the needy.
“My wife shared with me her idea of distributing veggies free to the needy. By God’s grace, we can afford to give some vegetables to the poor for free. We started with 200 kg of vegetables initially which has now reached to 1,500 kg a week.”
They buy vegetables from Jamalpur market and drive around in Nehrunagar, Shivranjani, Jivraj Park, Vejalpur, Gujarat University, Thaltej gaam, Vastrapur and Drive-in Road areas to distribute the vegetables.
“I buy vegetables worth Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 every day and distribute them thrice a week. We used to incur transportation cost. However, when the farmers learnt of our endeavour, they stopped charging us the transportation cost. This helps us buy more vegetables with the same money.”
When they came to know papad is favourite among the poor, they started distributing it along with cabbage, bottle gourd, tomato, cauliflower, carrot, radish, sugarcane, sweet lime, grapes and muskmelon. His son Kushal, 24, and daughter Aashka, 21,too help them in the activity.
The kind hearted couple spends Rs 10 lakh on vegetables and fruit and makes a total donation of Rs 25 lakh annually.
He also helps students by paying off their fee and buying them books, he also pays for medical expenses of the poor and provides food grain to families without any income. “I want to help people in whatever way I can. The almighty has blessed me by giving me an opportunity to make others’ lives better,” Shah says.
Soured from Mirror Heroes
