Homes with a heart

At 73,Bhatt is building his 164th house for a destitute family. He spends Rs 55,000-60,000 on each of these houses and hires masons to work on them.

The only condition I set for whoever approaches me for a house is that they should own some land. But I consider only those who dont have more than five cents of land, says Bhatt,father of two daughters and a son.

In the early years of my mission,I had to go in search of destitute families. Now,they come to me, says Bhatt,who also claims to be a traditional healer.

Farming is Bhatts main source of income. He says he makes the most of his land by following a multi-crop farming pattern.

Not an inch of his 20-acre land

is left fallow.

Apart from the money from farming,the old man also ensures that donations from his healing practice go into constructing houses. I have no bank account,let alone any deposit. Whatever is left after meeting household expenses,I use for charity.

I have not taken money from any organisation. Look at the houses constructed by me. All they carry is a plain plaque that says this house is donated by Sairam Bhatt, he says.

He says his unique mission stemmed from the realisation that only noble deeds outlive people. I will continue with this task till my last breath, he says.

In Kasargode,a district where the communal divide runs deep,Bhatt has made sure that he doesnt discriminate on the basis of religionhe has handed over houses to both Muslims and Hindus. Poverty has no religion, he says.