Shining Lives

For a man who is a diamond broker by profession,the name Raju Medical may not sound the most appropriate.

Meet Rajesh Nandlal Daftary who has been providing ration and medical supplies to poor families for the past 20 years

For a man who is a diamond broker by profession,the name Raju Medical may not sound the most appropriate. But 52-year-old Rajesh Nandlal Daftary is more than just a broker. For the last 20 years,Nandlal,or Raju Medical as he is fondly called,has been providing ration and medical supplies to poor families. And all these,so that I am remembered for good deeds even after I am dead, he says.

Youngest of seven brothers,Daftary was born in a poor family and grew up in a small house at Madhav Baug in CP Tank. He now lives at Ratan Nagar in Borivali east. I used to go to the Jain temple in CP Tank to attend pravachans. This gave me the inspiration to give back to the society, says Daftary,who lost his father at the age of six.

Daftary began by donating ration and medical supplies worth Rs 500 to needy families. I had always thought that I should help people in such a way that I could improve somebodys life. Today,he provides essential supplies to over 70 families in Kalyan,Virar and South Mumbai every month.

To fulfil this dream of helping people,Daftary has also started the Manav Seva Sudharak Bhakti,a platform for the needy people to approach him. He started this iniative from a small library in CP Tank area with his brother-in-law. On the second Saturday of every month,I donate about 70 kits of food grains comprising two kgs of wheat,rice,pulses,jaggery,sugar and medical supplies to the families who I think need help.

Daftary,who has been working in the Opera House area for the last 40 years,says he helps others for his own mental peace. To avail of Daftarys help,all a person has to do is fill up a form (available in the library) and attach the documents like salary certificate,electricity bill and a list of electronics in the house. After I get a form,I pay a visit to the persons family. If a family has an income of less than Rs 7,000 a month with at least four members and does not own luxury items like a washing machine,I add the family to the list.

Besides the essential supplies,Daftary also makes it a point to donate mangoes in May,notebooks for children in June and Diwali gifts in October. If the family income rises and I feel that the family does not need my help anymore,I stop donating the supplies.

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His work has prompted other diamond traders and brokers at Opera House to contribute to his organisation. I have now begun getting helps from American citizens. Daftary spends at least three hours everyday at the library going through the forms.

A father of two,Daftary shells out Rs 20,000 a month to help the needy. I would continue to do this for the rest of my life.

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