Motihari, Jan. 3: Delhi-based businessman Mankeshwar Singh has played a Good Samaritan for the poor people of the district who are finding it difficult to combat the biting cold.

The resident of Sobaiya village under Kalyanpur block has arrived with a large consignment of blankets to be distributed among the poor. Poor people have found little respite this winter. Overcast conditions have kept the average temperature low and there has been no arrangement from either the district administration or political and non-governmental organisations to provide any relief. In spite of two deaths from cold in the past 36 hours, there was no arrangement made for bonfires in the city.

“The administration and the politicians are apathetic probably because the elections are over,” said Ram Lochan Paswan, a rickshaw-puller and a resident of Gorwha village. Singh has been the only source of relief for people like Ram Lochan.

Inspired by the concept of Antyodaya, he not only arrived with the blankets but also went from door to door in a dozen villages, distributing them. Puran Chhapra, Medan Sirsia, Dilawarpur, Raghunathpur, Derwa Mathia, Bankat, Rajpur, Bahuarwa, Belwa and Barwa were among the villages that were benefitted from Singh’s philanthropy.

Singh said he was distributing the blankets not out of sympathy for the poor but out of a sense of calling to help his fellow beings.

Sadar sub-divisional officer Radhakant said bonfires would be lit at several places in the town and villages from today.

Singh, who is also the vice-president of BJP’s national investment cell, proposed to start a monthly scholarship scheme on a regular basis for students from economically weak background.