Thongsawan Wongrattana, of Muang district, said that she did not want anything in return for donating the 12 rai (two hectare) plot with an estimated value of more than Bt100 million.

She is happy that the land, donated to the province’s Non-Formal Education Centre in 2013, now houses a public library. The library’s opening ceremony was on March 1.

In recognition of her beau geste, Thongsawan received a medal of honour from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

She said that she felt satisfied the land had been used in a way she and her half sister liked. “We are happy now. No more worries for us. And we are proud with ourselves,” she said.

“Eight years ago, I was offered Bt100 million for the land. But I thought that with a lot of money many problems could follow.”

She lives with her 60-year-old half sister and they have no spouses or children. “We grow rice and vegetables and we catch fish in our farm. We sell the surplus at the market. We have no problems at all,” she said.

Social media users praised Thongsawan when they heard her story.