<p>It was a touching moment when Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar and Padma Shri awardee Harekala Hajabba, two individuals known for their simplicity, met face-to-face for the first time at DKZP Government High School in Harekala Newpadpu on the outskirts of the city on Saturday.</p>.<p>Students, teachers, members of school development monitoring committee (SDMC) and elected representatives were present on the occasion.</p>.<p>Kumar, while stepping out of his car, prevented Hajabba from falling at his feet and embraced him.</p>.<p>At the headmistress’ room, Orange vendor Hajabba’s eyes turned misty as he choked over his words when the minister placed an arm on his shoulders like an old friend.</p>.<p>Hajabba kept repeating that he had never dreamt that the Minister for Education will visit him in his school. Hajabba’s eyes again turned misty when the minister felicitated him.</p>.<p>Suresh, addressing the gathering, declared that unlike Darshan or Salman, Hajabba was the true hero. The entire society needs to bow in respect for what he has done for society.</p>.<p>Suresh said that he had met many people during his visit to schools but this is the first time he had met an ‘Akshara Santa’-a title awarded to Hajabba.</p>.<p>“There are few people like Hajabba and I feel proud to be seated next to him,” the minister said matter-of-factly.</p>.<p>Engaging the students of tenth standard in an animated conversation, he urged students to perform well in the SSLC examinations scheduled for March 23.</p>.<p>“The future of the school depends on you and you should become good ambassadors,” he emphasised while urging students to pay attention to their health and achieve their dreams.</p>.<p>MLA U T Khader who felicitated Minister Suresh Kumar said selfless service to society will take individuals to great heights.</p>.<p>Raksha, a student of tenth standard, said Hajabba himself opens the classrooms before the students arrive.</p>.<p>Fathima Zohra, Sahana, Aspiya, students of ninth standard said they take immense pride to declare that they study in Padma Shri recipient Hajabba’s school.</p>.<p>“Even after being conferred with the award, he remains the same,” the students gushed.</p>.<p>Akshata, who teaches Kannada, said many students drop out after SSLC, as there is no government-run PU college in the vicinity.</p>.<p>The minister said that differently-abled students appearing for SSLC examinations are being provided with all facilities including a bed.</p>.<p>The answer scripts of differently-abled students taking SSLC examinations in private are being tagged with stickers, he added.</p>.<p>The process of appointing 10,600 teachers is underway and additional 10,000 will be recruited as 24,000 teachers will be retiring next year, he said.</p>.<p>The minister also accepted a memorandum from Hajabba and promised to implement the demands earnestly.</p>
<p>It was a touching moment when Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar and Padma Shri awardee Harekala Hajabba, two individuals known for their simplicity, met face-to-face for the first time at DKZP Government High School in Harekala Newpadpu on the outskirts of the city on Saturday.</p>.<p>Students, teachers, members of school development monitoring committee (SDMC) and elected representatives were present on the occasion.</p>.<p>Kumar, while stepping out of his car, prevented Hajabba from falling at his feet and embraced him.</p>.<p>At the headmistress’ room, Orange vendor Hajabba’s eyes turned misty as he choked over his words when the minister placed an arm on his shoulders like an old friend.</p>.<p>Hajabba kept repeating that he had never dreamt that the Minister for Education will visit him in his school. Hajabba’s eyes again turned misty when the minister felicitated him.</p>.<p>Suresh, addressing the gathering, declared that unlike Darshan or Salman, Hajabba was the true hero. The entire society needs to bow in respect for what he has done for society.</p>.<p>Suresh said that he had met many people during his visit to schools but this is the first time he had met an ‘Akshara Santa’-a title awarded to Hajabba.</p>.<p>“There are few people like Hajabba and I feel proud to be seated next to him,” the minister said matter-of-factly.</p>.<p>Engaging the students of tenth standard in an animated conversation, he urged students to perform well in the SSLC examinations scheduled for March 23.</p>.<p>“The future of the school depends on you and you should become good ambassadors,” he emphasised while urging students to pay attention to their health and achieve their dreams.</p>.<p>MLA U T Khader who felicitated Minister Suresh Kumar said selfless service to society will take individuals to great heights.</p>.<p>Raksha, a student of tenth standard, said Hajabba himself opens the classrooms before the students arrive.</p>.<p>Fathima Zohra, Sahana, Aspiya, students of ninth standard said they take immense pride to declare that they study in Padma Shri recipient Hajabba’s school.</p>.<p>“Even after being conferred with the award, he remains the same,” the students gushed.</p>.<p>Akshata, who teaches Kannada, said many students drop out after SSLC, as there is no government-run PU college in the vicinity.</p>.<p>The minister said that differently-abled students appearing for SSLC examinations are being provided with all facilities including a bed.</p>.<p>The answer scripts of differently-abled students taking SSLC examinations in private are being tagged with stickers, he added.</p>.<p>The process of appointing 10,600 teachers is underway and additional 10,000 will be recruited as 24,000 teachers will be retiring next year, he said.</p>.<p>The minister also accepted a memorandum from Hajabba and promised to implement the demands earnestly.</p>