‘Rs 10’ doctor waives Rs 9L rent of shopkeepers in his complex

Thiruchirapalli

Dr TA Kanagarathinam alias TAK Rathinam (83), popularly known as ‘ten rupees doctor’ in Pattukkottai town area for he collects just Rs 10 for consulting fee at his nursing home located in the middle of the town which serves around more than 50 villages in and around Pattukkottai.

While he is already noted for his philanthropic activities, Dr Rathinam has shown his humane side again during COVID-19 pandemic by deciding to waive off rent from his tenants in the commercial complex he owns adjacent to the hospital at the Periya Theru in Pattukkottai. The total rent amounts to Rs 9 lakh for the three months.

It is said, there are three shops and a textiles showroom in the complex that were closed ever since the lockdown was announced. Except for the textile showroom, the other shops do a marginal business in the town and the decision of the doctors gave a great sigh of relief to the shopkeepers who had even faced difficulties to run the families during the lockdown period.

“We never approached him to help us. But he surprised us one day while we were thinking of the rent by calling us over the phone and telling me his decision. What else one needs during a time like this,” said owner of a footwear store in the complex.

According to the people close to the doctor, he has been running the hospital on a service basis and he even provides free medicines to the people belonging to poor background. Since he collects just Rs 10 as a consulting fee and noted for his expertise in taking care of pregnant women and their delivery mostly of normal ones, the people particularly from the rural areas throng the hospital and the new mothers never miss to get his blessings.