Ill woman donates last rites money for martyrs' families

SURAT: Seventy-two-year-old Lila Patoliya, who is seriously ill, on Sunday handed over a cheque of Rs1.11 lakh to food, civil supply and consumers affairs minister Jayeshkumar Viththalbhai Radadiya as her contribution to the families of martyrs from Indian Armed Forces.
Condition of Patoliya, who is suffering from diabetes for the past 18 years, suddenly turned critical due to organ failure.Her kidneys stopped functioning. "Doctors said that my mother may not survive for long. We brought her home from hospital after she expressed the wish to be with the family. She also asked us to avoid any expense on rituals should she die and instead contribute the money saved for the welfare of families of the armed forces," Patoliya's son Anil said.
The family approached the state government and Radadiya acceded to her wish and accepted the cheque. "My mother told me that we should support the families of the martyrs since they die protecting us from the enemies. She said it was better to help families of the martyrs instead of offering meals to relatives as a ritual," said Anil, a real estate developer.
Patoliya was in a lot of pain, but she overcame it to give the cheque to the minister. She said this gesture of hers would send a message to the armed forces that the people of the country are always indebted to them for their service to the nation.
Patoliya family hails from Thansa village of Gariyadhar taluka in Bhavnagar district. The family is settled in Surat for the last many years.