PALANPUR: Doctors are slowly losing hope of his recovery. But

’s beggar Khimji

, who has won millions of hearts by donating all his alms for social causes, is not deterred by his life-threatening condition.

Prajapati, who was detected with

three months ago, has donated Rs 5,000 — an amount that he could have well spent on his treatment — for rehabilitation of Kerala flood victims. The 71-year-old, who is more feeble than before, walked with the support of crutches and reached the collector’s office on Saturday to give Rs 5,000 in cash.

“I was devastated on hearing about the plight of people in flood-ravaged Kerala. Nothing gives me more happiness than giving something to the needy,” this good Samaritan told TOI. He only prays that the Kerala government, which is desperately trying to rebuild the state, will not be starved of funds from Good Samaritans like him. “I am happy that the state of

too was not found lagging in generosity, having announced Rs 10 crore assistance,” Prajapati said.

Harshad Vohra, additional resident collector, Mehsana said, “Such a gesture on part of a cancer-affected beggar has presented a unique example of unselfish love, sacrifice and devotion for the society. Since we cannot accept cash in donation, we arranged to deposit the money in a bank and gave Prajapati a receipt.”

Prajapati was detected with cancer three months ago and has been taking treatment from a private doctor in Rajkot. He arranged the initial treatment cost of Rs 70,000 from cash award he received from some corporates for his philanthropy while Rs 30,000 was donated by a Surat-based family.

Alms donated by him help fund education of poor kids

Khimji Prajapati has undergone three chemotherapy sessions and the Mehsana collector has offered to arrange for his treatment at an ayurvedic hospital near Vijapur. “I will decide on taking the ayurvedic treatment after consulting my Rajkot doctor,” he said.

The philanthropist, who begs outside the Simandhar Swami Jain Temple in Mehsana, still cherishes the satisfaction he got by donating gold earrings to 10 school girls to encourage them to study. Looking at his devotion to help others, the Rotary Club of India had awarded him the ‘Literacy Hero Award’ last year.

Khimji accumulates his entire year’s collection of alms and uses it for the needy school children to help them purchase books, pens, uniforms and other stationery. Underprivileged girls have been the largest beneficiary of his philanthropic activity that comes with a bagful of love and devotion.