Surat trader gives staff over Rs 1 lakh each as Diwali bonus, leaves them emotional

A Gujarat-based textile trader found an unusual way to reward his employees for their hard work, handing out cash bonuses worth over Rs 1 lakh each in bundles of fresh currency notes ahead of Diwali. The gesture left several employees overwhelmed, with some women breaking down in tears as they received the money.Ramswaroop Munde, who runs a textile business in Surat, distributed the bonuses among 20 employees, replacing the usual festive gifts or sweets with substantial cash rewards.A video of the distribution has gone viral on social media. The notes, ranging from Rs 10 and Rs 20 to Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 200 and Rs 500, were arranged neatly on a silver-toned plate.The sheer volume of cash on the tray left the employees astonished. Their surprise soon gave way to joy, with some employees visibly becoming emotional when Munde started handing out the bonuses.His family members were also present during the distribution of the Diwali bonuses. Speaking to India Today's sister channel Aaj Tak over the phone, Munde said the gesture stemmed from his own experiences of growing up in poverty and understanding the financial difficulties families face, particularly during festivals.He said his employees were not merely people working at his shop but an extension of his family.Having been in the textile business for several years, he said he recognised that the hard work and dedication of his staff throughout the year played a crucial role in the success of his business.The trader said he wanted every employee to have enough money to take care of their family's festive purchases and celebrate Diwali with a genuine smile.He added that he decided to give each of them over Rs 1 lakh in cash, without worrying about the expense or making a show of the gesture.The video has since been widely shared on social media platforms, drawing praise for the businessman's generosity and his affection for his employees.- Ends(Based on inputs from Sanjay SIngh J Rathod)