Akshara Santa Harekala Hajabba Receives Padma Sri Award From The President

Harekala Hajabba, the orange seller from Harekala in Mangalore who built a school for children of his village by selling oranges is conferred the Padma Shree Award by President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapathi Bhavan in New Delhi on November 8, Monday morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and various other dignitaries were present. Hajabba along with his nephew went to Delhi and their trip was facilitated through the arrangements made by Dakshina Kannada district administration and Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel. Hajabba was chosen for the honour in the light of the contributions he made to the education sector. Though the Padma Shree Award for Hajabba was announced in January 2020 itself, the award presentation ceremony could not be held that year due to the Covid pandemic and lockdown.