A 70-year-old man, who was given financial assistance by the government for treatment of heart disease 23 years ago, suddenly appeared in the office of Deputy Commissioner at Dharamsala today and returned the money with lots of thanks.
The people, including the Deputy Commissioner Ritesh Chauhan were flabbergasted by the rare gesture. "It was for the first time in my life that a person has come to return the money," the Commissioner said.
Moreover, the 70-year-old man, a resident of Nagrota Bhagawan and a former employee of education department did not want his name to be disclosed.
He narrated his story, punctuated by thanks to the government at regular intervals. He fell ill in 1992 and the doctors told him that he had a "hole in the heart" and had to be operated.
"At that time my income was very low and a family to support and arranging money for the operation was a daunting task. But the governmentgave Rs 10,000 from 'Daridra Narayan Kosh' and Rs 3000 from Red cross fund and I was successfully operated", the man said.
"However, a lurking sense of gratitude had been making me restive and uncomfortable and I always wished to return the money.
"For long years, I could not do it but today I am in a position to return the money and have come here to return the money," he said.
