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Santiago Martin: All You Need To Know About The Controversial Lottery King

10 August 2021

Santiago Martin: All You Need To Know About The Controversial Lottery King


Santiago Martin, a name that has been associated with numerous political links and murky dealings. On April 30, 2018, the IT Department raided the properties of controversial lottery king, Santiago Martin. This wasn’t the first time that the lottery business owner has fallen under the scanner. He started his lottery business that began in Tamil Nadu before expanding to multiple states. He was also criticized for maintaining close ties with political leaders in Tamil Nadu.

But, the reality of the man that Santiago Martin was, is far from what is reported and believed to be true. We have heard and read about the controversies that saw Santiago Martin take the limelight, it’s about time we know the kind-hearted man that he is.

HISTORY OF SANTIAGO MARTIN

Also known as controversial Lottery ‘King’, Santiago Martin is a businessman who rose to fame by building an empire by printing and selling lottery tickets. He started his career as a small laborer in Yangon, Myanmar. His aspiration became the reason for his return to India, where he started a lottery business in Tamil Nadu in 1988, and with hardwork and dedication, expanded his business to Karnataka and Kerala. In 2003, when Tamil Nadu banned lotteries, he obediently took the business outside the state.

He shifted his operations to the northeast, where he handled the government lottery schemes. Thereon, he expanded his business internationally, with business operations in Bhutan and Nepal, where he became one of the first contributors to lottery tickets.

He also owned SS Music, which had produced Illaigan, the 75th movie of M. Karunanidhi as a scriptwriter. He earned the leading position in the lottery business, having an annual growth of 109%, because of which he was titled “Lottery King” of India.

Besides Martin Lottery Tickets, the lottery agent also established a wide range of enterprises, not only in India but abroad, where he built Martin Myanmar, and Martin Yangon. They have made their presence known in Real Estate, Construction, Building Materials, Hospitality, Textiles & Yarn, Visual Media Entertainment, Agro, are some services they offer

His numerous accomplishments have made him unique and given him a status that sets him apart from the rest. He was awarded a gold medal by the Foundation for Excellence in Business, Geneva. He was also appointed as the “Consul General for the Republic of Liberia”, where he helped the Liberian economy by expanding the lottery business in the country.

He was bestowed upon an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration by Yorker State University, New York. He became the recipient of the well-known Best Lottery Professional Award in 2000 by PGR, USA.

HIS SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Being one of the highest taxpayers in India, the lottery agent has always given a share of what he gains into CSR activities. From donating relief materials to elevating the status of the poor, Santiago Martin has contributed to transforming Indian society. The controversial lottery king established the Martin Charitable Trust to address these issues of social and economic inequality and provide a solution to all of them. Some of the activities that he undertook are:

  • Donating relief materials: India has experienced innumerable natural disasters in the past and the Covid-19 pandemic is just adding to the disasters India has faced. Martin Charitable Trust has consistently donated money to the Chief Minister of different states.
       
    • Cyclone Gaja: In response to Cyclone Gaja, Santiago Martin on behalf of the Martin Foundation donated a cheque of Rs. 5 crores to the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami as a contribution for relief work in areas affected by the cyclone.

Martin Foundation joined hands with the local authorities by helping in evacuation and spreading warning measures through local community radio in nearby villages.

People who were affected by the storm were given access to essential supplies and services including food, shelter, water, clothes, sanitation, and medical assistance.

They also donated relief materials worth Rs. 3 crore to the people affected. He was the highest individual contributor in support of Cyclone Gaja.

Martin Group of Companies also donated Rs. 1 crore towards Assam CM’s Relief Fund to assist in the rehabilitation of flood-hit regions in Assam.

Santiago Martin also contributed to the CM’s Relief Fund of Tamil Nadu in the 2015 floods, and also to the CM’s Relief Fund of Kerala during the 2018 floods.

  • Reducing Inequalities in Education: Santiago Martin believes that change will come only when people will become educated, and aware of their surroundings. Focusing more on this aspect, Martin Charitable Trust reached out to schools in villages to support their education by adopting those schools.

They have adopted numerous schools in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, providing education to those children who come from downtrodden families.

To give wings to the dreams of the government school students, Martin Foundation in association with APJ Abdul Kalam Foundation and Space Foundation sponsored 500 government school students who were chosen from across the country for designing Femto Satellites that were launched on 9th February 2021 at Rameshwaram.

Proper hygiene and sanitation in school are a must for the health of the students. Taking a cue from this, they donated money to schools in Pudukkottai for the construction of toilets.

  • Instrumental in decreasing the Covid-19 spread in the state: The pandemic has brought Tamil Nadu to the brink of being one of the most affected states in the Indian subcontinent. Martin Charitable Trust through their contribution has been instrumental in bringing a change to the state’s situation. 
    • Distribution of Arsenic Album: Covid-19 affects your immunity, one with a weak immune system is at a higher risk of getting contracted with severe Covid, while one with a good immune system can easily fight off the virus.

      Stressing more on this point, Martin Charitable Trust under the guidance of Leema Rose Martin distributed 500 packs of Arsenic Album 30C, one of the most effective homeopathic medicines to the public.
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    • Donating Covid-19 relief material: Martin Charitable Trust donated relief material worth Rs. 3 crore that included 100 oxygen concentrators, 400 oxygen cylinders, life-saving medicines, N95 masks, oximeters, and hand sanitizers.
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  • Efforts to Eradicate Economic Inequality: Martin Foundation is a non-profit organization that strives to work in harmony to alleviate the economic inequality prevalent in the Indian subcontinent. The mission is to eradicate poverty and injustice from the country by assisting people to come out of poverty.

They provide grants to people and organizations, to help them assist themselves and others. So far, it has taken around 20+ initiatives, funded over Rs. 55 million, and aided around 1K students.

They have invested in many innovative and charitable trusts who aim to provide transformative solutions to their cause.

  • Food Outreach Programmes: As a part of the CSR activities, Martin Foundation extended its support to people fighting hunger. Each day, a nutritious meal was cooked for 5000+ people. The meal was rich in protein such as chicken, vegetables, and eggs. The meal was cooked with utmost care and packed in hygienically.

 Vehicles were employed to distribute food to villages throughout Tamil Nadu. Through this food outreach program, they were able to reach the remotest tribal villages that didn’t get enough food. Within 2 weeks, they filled the stomachs of more than 50,000 individuals.

It is easy to judge people by what we hear, but it is equally important to know the other part of the story.