Ramesh and Nitin Patel
Nominated for : Helping needy patients.
Initiative - Providing coconut water to poor patients for free.
Nominated for : Helping needy patients.
Initiative - Providing coconut water to poor patients for free.
Resources matter the least to the ones who are committed to the good of others, believe Nitin and Ramesh Patel who have been distributing free coconut water to poor patients at V S Hospital for about a decade-and-a-half. Though the brothers own a shop ‘Garib dardi mate mafat nariyal’, their charity dates back to the days when the two used to sell the doctors’ most recommended liquid diet on a handcart outside one of the largest hospitals in the city.“This chain of charity began on the day we set up our small venture on a larri in 1999. After keeping aside a certain sum for business and household expenses, we would use the remaining to provide coconut water to the needy for free. This is the least we can do for those who cannot bear the cost of medicines. And God has been really kind that financial crunch has never been a hindrance in this small gesture,” says Nitin Patel. A coconut comes for Rs 30 only. But it does matter to people who cannot afford two meals a day, he adds. The Patels have become popular among the medical staff at V S Hospital. “Now, even doctors and nurses refer poor patients to us. It shows their trust in us,” says Ramesh Patel, the elder brother.
The Patels also keep a check on ‘beneficiaries’ so that others do not take advantage of the charity. This helps them to reach out to the deserving.
“The tag of ‘free’ attracts a lot of people. But not all of them are poor. The needy are identified easily but in dicey cases, we ask for medical papers of V S Hospital. We verify the papers and help only those who are genuine. Instead of naming our shop, we have kept a board that declares that any poor patient can get free coconut from here,” says Nitin Patel.
The service of the brothers has inspired several visitors at the hospital. They donate money to ensure that charity flows uninterrupted. “The board catches the attention of visitors. While some donate money in memory of their beloved, a few do charity to repay favours of the Almighty who has given them enough in life,” he adds.
The Patels have now started keeping a record of the donation they receive from people and patients’ kin. They also mention their contribution to it.
“People not just shower praises on us but also donate generously. We are overwhelmed by their gesture. But our achievement lies in the fact that our small effort has inspired people to come forward and help others. Ours was a small initiative which has now turned into a big leap,” says Ramesh.
The brothers, who own a house near the hospital, spend about Rs 7,000 every month for the charity. “We have also come across people who despite being poor insist on buying coconut. We convince them to take it for free without hurting their selfrespect. We also serve 25 different kind of juices to patients who are on strict liquid diet,” says Nitin.
The wholesalers give the Patels coconut at a discount so that more people can reap the benefit of their efforts. The brothers believe that their business has grown because of the charity they do.
The Patels also keep a check on ‘beneficiaries’ so that others do not take advantage of the charity. This helps them to reach out to the deserving.
“The tag of ‘free’ attracts a lot of people. But not all of them are poor. The needy are identified easily but in dicey cases, we ask for medical papers of V S Hospital. We verify the papers and help only those who are genuine. Instead of naming our shop, we have kept a board that declares that any poor patient can get free coconut from here,” says Nitin Patel.
The service of the brothers has inspired several visitors at the hospital. They donate money to ensure that charity flows uninterrupted. “The board catches the attention of visitors. While some donate money in memory of their beloved, a few do charity to repay favours of the Almighty who has given them enough in life,” he adds.
The Patels have now started keeping a record of the donation they receive from people and patients’ kin. They also mention their contribution to it.
“People not just shower praises on us but also donate generously. We are overwhelmed by their gesture. But our achievement lies in the fact that our small effort has inspired people to come forward and help others. Ours was a small initiative which has now turned into a big leap,” says Ramesh.
The brothers, who own a house near the hospital, spend about Rs 7,000 every month for the charity. “We have also come across people who despite being poor insist on buying coconut. We convince them to take it for free without hurting their selfrespect. We also serve 25 different kind of juices to patients who are on strict liquid diet,” says Nitin.
The wholesalers give the Patels coconut at a discount so that more people can reap the benefit of their efforts. The brothers believe that their business has grown because of the charity they do.
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