Pics: Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)
Mangaluru, Feb 15: Karnataka minister of primary and secondary education Suresh Kumar on Saturday February 15 visited the school of Padma Shri awardee Harekala Hajabba and felicitated him for his contribution to the field of education.
Addressing the gathering, Suresh Kumar said, "Harekakala Hajabba who has offered himself to the society on the principle of 'what is mine belongs to you' has become a role model to all of us. This is the first time I am visiting Hajabba, and it is an important day in my life. I have come here to express my gratitude to Hajabba on behalf of the people of the state.
"We call ourselves educationists and academicians for starting educational institutions with the intention to do business. But Hajabba, despite being illiterate and a vendor of oranges, opened a school with the intention of educating the children in his village. That is the real meaning of being an educationist. He is a real hero.
"Today, a tea seller (referring to Prime Minister Modi) has recognised the contribution of an orange seller and chosen him for Padma Shri. I salute Harekala Hajabba," he added.
"Hajabba has put forward several demands including assistance in starting a pre-university college, conversion of his school to a public school, construction of compound wall and so on. I will surely consider them looking into the number of students and other facilities," he said.
"Tenth standard students are the ambassadors of the school. More students will join the school if the results are good. Do not be afraid of SSLC examinations. Bring out the best SSLC results and make Hajabba's dream a reality," he told the students.
MLA U T Khader said that the way Hajabba brought up the school as an office-bearer of school development committee was amazing. He also pointed out that though Hajabba has been honoured and awarded several times by many, he has never kept those cash rewards to himself, but deposited them in the school's account.
Harekala Hajabba said that it was his good fortune to have received the Padma Shri and been honored by the education minister. He expressed his gratitude to the media for highlighting his story.
Harekala Hajabba felicitated minister Suresh Kumar and MLA Khader on the occasion.
BJP leader Captain Ganesh Karnik, taluk panchayat president Mohammed Monu, Harekala panchayat president Anita D’ Souza, Walter D'Mello, district physical education committee’s Raghunath, in charge BEO Prashanth, Ravindra Shetty Ulidottu, Prasad Rai Kallimar, Mustafa Harekala, panchayat members Bashir, Badruddin, Sattar and Kalyani, Rajagopal Rai, in-charge headmistress Roopa and teachers were present.
The minister speaking to reporters said that there are plans to empower government schools. "A daily wage worker spends up to 40% of his earnings on his child's education. Therefore, the importance and standard a government school needs to maintain will be established. More teachers will be appointed. Extra facilities will be provided to differently-abled students to write SSLC examinations," he said.