Lulu Group's MA Yusuf Ali Pays Rs 9 Lakh Shop Rent Due Of Kerala Woman Evicted Over Nonpayment
The months of lockdown have been tough on millions of Indians who lost their incomes and livelihoods. While most states have come out of the lockdown phase and are cautiously opening up, in places like Kerala, it is still there at least in parts.
This is adding to the struggles of the small business owners, who are unable to open their shops, yet have to pay the rent and taxes.
With no income and debts mounting, many small businesses in the state have down their shutters for good, while others have been thrown out by their landlords or nonpayment of rent.
One such small business owner, Prasanna has been gifted a second chance to rebuild her life and business, thanks to the kind gesture of billionaire businessman MA Yousuf Ali.
Humane gesture
Ali, the Chairman of UAE-based Lulu Group paid the rent dues of Prasanna who was evicted by the Greater Cochin Development Corporation (GCDA) from her shop at Kochi.
The 54-year-old had to pay Rs 13,800 per month as rent but due to Covid lockdown and some maintenance work, she was not able to open the shop.
With no income, the woman, who also has to support her mentally challenged daughter defaulted on rent payments.
When she was unable to pay a due of Rs 9 lakh GCDA officials had shut down the shop on Wednesday and Prasanna.
On learning about her plight, Yusuf Ali promised to help the struggling woman and his company paid the Rs 9 lakh rent dues.?
In addition to this, the Kerala-born businessman also gave Rs 2 lakh to Prasanna to help her run the street shop where she was selling refreshments and juices.
"When notice was served on me, I did not have any means other than thinking about suicide. I don't have Rs 9,000 with me, how can I pay Rs 9 lakh. I and my family thank Yusuf Ali saheb wholeheartedly for this benevolence showered on us. He was literally God sent to us," Prasanna told IANS.
Not the first time
Last month, in another humanitarian gesture, Yousuf Ali had paid nearly Rs 1 crore as 'blood money' to save the life of an Indian man who was on death row in the UAE.
Becks Krishnan, a native of Kerala's Thrissur was jailed in September 2012 after his car rammed into a Sudanese boy and was sentenced to death by UAE Supreme Court after he was found guilty of reckless driving.?
After he was sentenced to death, Krishnan's family had been trying unsuccessfully to get him released.?
Things took a positive turn after the kin of Krishnan approached Yusuf Ali, who is an?influential businessman in the Middle East and one of the richest NRIs.
Subsequently, Yusuf Ali paid 500,000 Dirhams (Rs one crore approximately) as compensation in the court to secure Krishna's release.
