Mangesh Ahiwale, a Mumbai based street vendor who sells vada pav for a living has set a remarkable example for the society. On January 30th, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Mr Ahiwale had declared that he would donate the entire day’s earnings to Defense Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman for the welfare of Indian soldiers.
Mangesh Ahiwale, a Vada pav seller from #Mumbai, sold Vada pav at Rs 5 instead of Rs 14 from 10 am to 8 pm today; the amount collected will be handed over to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tomorrow for welfare of soldiers #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/dsVPLkOomy
— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2018
Not only did Mr Ahiwale pledge to donate the entire day’s earnings, he also sold the snacks at Rs 5 instead of Rs 14 so even the poor can afford it and more and more people can contribute to the noble cause. He was joined by many to help him achieve his goal. People too participated enthusiastically and his stall saw a great many customers on the day.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJgGHUXxshk]
As per a report, this was not even the first time Mr Ahiwale has displayed his dedication to the society. He has done it earlier too. In 2015, Mr Ahiwale donated Rs 20,000 to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for drought-hit farmers in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions. Last year after the Elphinstone railway bridge tragedy, he had done the same gesture of donating a day’s earnings to the victims’ families. Mr Mangesh Ahiwale had said that like every Indian, he respects the Armed Forces and he thinks that we all our remembrance of their sacrifices should not be limited to January 26 and August 15.
Mr Mangesh Ahiwale’s noble gesture was praised by many. Some on social media also hailed the gesture and criticised how ex-finance minister and Congress leader P. Chidambaram had recently compared street vendors to beggars.
This is the kind of #pakodawala that Chitfundambaram compares to a beggar! https://t.co/n2bZxD7brP
— Shefali Vaidya (@ShefVaidya) January 30, 2018
Mr Chidambaram in a recent statement had stated that if pakoda selling can be called a job even begging can be called a job. His statement was severely criticised for being insulting to the hard working, enterprising street vendors.
