85-Year-Old Kamalathal aka Idli Amma To Get Own Home, Working Space To Sell Food Out Of

Remember Idli Amma Kamalathal, who sold idlis for Re 1 during the pandemic despite running losses? Also known as 'Paatima,' she is in her 80s and based in Tamil Nadu, where she was till now working out of her humble home. Her inspirational story has drawn attention once again and now 'Idli Amma' is all set for an upgrade on her home-cum-working space.

Industrialist Anand Mahindra shared Friday on Twitter that Kamalathal will receive financial assistance on her residence from his organisation. The Mahindra team has 'invested' in Idli Amma's business by registering for land at the Thondamuthur registry office and, as per the industrialist, will soon begin construction as per her requirements on the acquired space.

Idli Amma Kamalathal Will Now Have Her Own Working Space!

"Only rarely does one get to play a small part in someone’s inspiring story, and I would like to thank Kamalathal, better known as Idli Amma, for letting us play a small part in hers. She will soon have her own house cum workspace from where she will cook & sell idlis," Mahindra

Only rarely does one get to play a small part in someone’s inspiring story, and I would like to thank Kamalathal, better known as Idli Amma, for letting us play a small part in hers. She will soon have her own house cum workspace from where she will cook & sell idlis (1/3) https://t.co/vsaIKIGXTp

See his post on Idli Amma Kamalathal here: 

Only rarely does one get to play a small part in someone’s inspiring story, and I would like to thank Kamalathal, better known as Idli Amma, for letting us play a small part in hers. She will soon have her own house cum workspace from where she will cook & sell idlis (1/3) https://t.co/vsaIKIGXTp

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) April 2, 2021

Idli Amma's story had first gone viral in 2019, when a video of her working at a traditional wood-burning stove was shared extensively on social media. At the time, it was reported she sold idlis for just a single rupee to daily wage workers and had been working at her business for over 30 years in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.

"Profits are not my priority but feeding the people is what drives me to work,” she had said in interviews.

Her relentless motivation towards societal good, without attention to her own profits, had prompted Union Minister for Petroleum and Gas Dharmendra Pradhan to issue an LPG connection for Kamalathal in order to improve her working conditions.

Charity Never Sleeps: Idli Amma Kamalathal's Inspiring Lockdown Efforts

What invited another round of applause for her was the news that through the lockdown - which saw nationwide job losses and massive financial downfalls - Idli Amma Kamalathal continued selling low-priced idlis.

"The situation has been a little difficult since corona started but I have been trying my best to provide the idli at Re 1. I won’t raise the price of my idli... There are more people coming. Many migrant labourers are stuck here and so there are more people coming," she told India Today. 

Her untiring efforts moved many establishments and people to come forward and help Idli Amma in material supply, preparation and dispatch of idlis, so she could keep up her philanthropic endeavours.