An orange vendor from Karnataka has received the Padma Shri award, India’s second highest civilian award, from the President of India in Delhi on Monday. Harekala Hajba, who sells oranges on the streets of Managaluru, Karnataka, received an award for building a school for underprivileged children in his village.
Hajba has built a school at Harekala-Newpadpu village in Mangaluru. At present, the school has 175 underprivileged students of the village. Hajabba has been selling oranges at Mangaluru Bus Depot since 1977 and never attended any school.
their desire to revolutionize Education It came to his mind in 1978 when a foreigner asked him the price of oranges in his village.
The Padma awardee told ANI, “I only know Kannada, not English or Hindi. So I was depressed as I could not help the foreigner. I thought of building a school in my village.”
Hajba’s dream of building a school came true only after two decades. He contacted former MLA late UT Farid, who had approved the construction in the year 2000.
The school started with 28 students and now accommodates 175 students till class 10.
The Padma awardee aims to build more schools and colleges in his village. He told that he has taken money from people and deposited prize money to buy land for schools and colleges.
“I have requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to construct a pre-university college (for class 11 and 12 students) in my village,” Hajba said.
Don’t miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint.
download
Our App Now!!
.