NEW DELHI : An octogenarian woman from Tamil Nadu, who had been selling idlis for just ₹1 each to feed the poor for the last 30 years, has got noticed after businessman Anand Mahindra tweeted out a video of hers. Mahindra was particularly concerned about the health of her lungs as she was burning wood to steam fluffy idlis.

An octogenarian woman from Tamil Nadu, who had been selling idlis for just ₹1 each to feed the poor for the last 30 years, has got noticed after businessman Anand Mahindra tweeted out a video of hers. Mahindra was particularly concerned about the health of her lungs as she was burning wood to steam fluffy idlis.

"One of those humbling stories that make you wonder if everything you do is even a fraction as impactful as the work of people like Kamalathal. I notice she still uses a wood-burning stove.If anyone knows her I’d be happy to ‘invest’ in her business & buy her an LPG fueled stove," Anand Mahindra tweeted.

"One of those humbling stories that make you wonder if everything you do is even a fraction as impactful as the work of people like Kamalathal. I notice she still uses a wood-burning stove.If anyone knows her I’d be happy to ‘invest’ in her business & buy her an LPG fueled stove," Anand Mahindra tweeted. Hi! You've read all your free articles To Continue Reading, Subscribe Now Articles by celebrated columnists A differentiated perspective The best of Wall Street Journal Subscribe Now Already Subscribed ? Sign in

He not only wanted to invest in her one-rupee idli business but also buy her an LPG stove. "I’m happy to support the continued supply of LPG. Our company teams in the area will, I’m sure, be happy to provide assistance too," Mahindra said.

A day after his tweet, BPCL Coimbatore contacted the lady Kamalathal and issued an LPG connection.

Kamalathal, fondly called KamalaPaatti by Vadivelam Palayam villagers, expressed her comfort on using LPG stove for cooking idlis.

"She requestd for a big commercial hotplate and small wet grinder which was given today," HPCL, which also responded to Mahindra's tweet, said. The state-run oil and gas marketing company said they provided her with an HP Gas commercial installation with proper burner and piping along with a wet grinder which will help her expand business and ease her life with the convenience of cooking idlis on LPG.

Oil and natural gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, "Salute the spirit and commitment of Kamalathal. Glad to having helped her through local OMC officers in getting LPG connection. Society must empower such hard working people who defy all odds."