Chitwan, August 19

Social activist and a former lawmaker Maiya Devi Shrestha handed over her house and cash worth around Rs 100 million to Maiya Devi Trust Nepal in Chitwan today.

Philanthropist Shrestha donated her house in Narayangadh of Bharatpur sub-metropolitan city-3 worth around Rs 80 million and Rs 20 million in cash at a function held today in the district. She handed the land ownership certificate and a cheque worth Rs 20 million to Chairperson of the trust Prem Kumar Shrestha through Minister of Education Chitra Lekha Yadav, who chaired the programme.

According to Tanka Nath Poudel, general secretary of the trust, Shrestha has donated property worth around Rs 620 million to various social organisations and individuals so far. She had contributed Rs 100 million for the construction of Maiya Devi Kanya College, Nepali Congress Central Office, Chitwan NC’s ward office in Bharatpur-3, besides donating a large area of land.

She has donated land and cash worth around Rs 650 million to the party’s leaders, cadres and various organisations so far. She donated property worth around Rs 335 million for party leaders and activists alone. Besides, she has also extended her helping hand to Nepali citizens living abroad.

While handing over the property to the trust, Shrestha said that she will donate her remaining property, including land and jewellery to the social sector.

Eighty-seven-year-old Shrestha said that she established the trust and handed over the property to it for the welfare of society as she was facing health problems with growing age.

“As nobody takes any property with them after death, I believe what religion says, ‘serve the humanity.’ Hence, I decided to donate all the property in my possession to the trust,” she said.

Minister Yadav said that only a person with a noble heart like Shrestha can donate property. Nepali Congress leader Sujata Koirala also lauded her selfless contribution.

Meanwhile, minister Yadav inaugurated Maiya Devi Museum today. Various awards, honours and letters of appreciations that she received have been kept in the collection. Three other funds were announced at the function including Maiya Devi Sahityik Puraskar Akshyyakosh with a purse of Rs 2 lakh, which will be awarded to a person for exceptional contribution in the field of literature every year; Maiya Devi Scholarship Fund, which is given to a person who performs exceptionally in the SLC examination every year with a purse of Rs 1 lakh; and Sujashree Maiya Devi Patrakarita Puraskarkosh.

Born in 1928, Maiya Devi Shrestha obtained membership of the Nepali Congress in 1946.