At a time when the blockbuster wedding of mining baron and former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhana Reddy’s daughter raised eyebrows, an Aurangabad-based businessman has donated 90 houses to the poor on the occasion of his daughter’s wedding.

The total value of the houses is estimated at Rs 1.5 crore. Ajay Munot and his daughter, Shreya, have become an example of how one can serve the community. Their gesture has gone viral on social media.

The Munot family, based in Lasur in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, are into agriculture and also have a machinery business. Wholesale trader of cloth and wheat, Munot constructed this colony on 2 acres of land. Munor family has selected the people for these houses. 

The family was reportedly planning to spend Rs 70 to 80 lakh for the wedding, but later decided against it. BJP MLA from Gangapur, Prashant Bamb, is a family friend and he supported their decision. 

“He (Bamb) is a family friend….we were discussing what we can do for the people and then came this idea...he supported us,” Munot said.

According to him, people give food and clothes, but it is not possible for all to donate houses. “These are the basic necessities of life... we decided to go ahead and construct houses for the poor,” Munot told DH.

Munot constructed a colony on two acres, with each house measuring 12x20 sqft. The colony also gets filtered water for drinking. The Munot family selected the occupants too — the residents had to be slum dwellers who were free from addictions. The main goal was to build 108 houses, but only 90 could be completed before the wedding. “I am very happy... everyone blessed us... this is the biggest gift of my life,” said Shreya.