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Meet K Kamalathal, The 80-Year-Old Woman Who Sells Idlis For Just Re 1 & Refuses To Hike Prices

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Shreya Chauhan
Shreya ChauhanUpdated on Sep 25, 2019, 16:16 IST

K Kamalathal runs a shop from her house at the age of 80. What does she do? Every morning she opens her doors to customers and sells fluffy, yummy idlis with delicious sambar and chutney for just Rs 1. 

At the age of 80, K Kamalathal is up before the sun rises. She reportedly started selling idlis 30 years ago in Vadivelampalayam. 

She is used to cooking for a large number of people as she grew up in a joint family. She does most of the work manually and it takes her four hours to grind all the ingredients for idli batter, which she does in the evening and uses next morning after it has been fermented. She makes sure to prepare fresh batter everyday. 



She reportedly sells around 1,000 idlis everyday! Till 10 years ago, she sold an idli for 50 paise and over the years she has increased the price to just Re 1.

She realises that most people in Vadivelampalayam come from a lower-middle-class background or financially deprived background. In such a case even paying Rs 15-20 bucks for a plate of idli every day is hard for them. 

Does she manage to make a profit? Marginally yes. But that is not her priority. Even when some have asked her to hike the price she refuses to do so, because she sells idlis to the poor, needy and hungry. 

She is doing such noble work even at the age of 80. More power to her. 

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