Meet the 8 unsung heroes who are creating a better Bengaluru!

Eight government servants, working in different departments across Bengaluru, were recognised for their unflinching commitment to creating a better city with their actions. They were honoured at the ‘Seva Samman’ awards, an initiative of The New Sunday Express, on 29 June 2019. Click to know more about these unsung heroes!
Eight government servants, working in different departments across Bengaluru, were recognised for their unflinching commitment to creating a better city with their actions. They were honoured at the ‘Seva Samman’ awards, an initiative of The New Sunday Express, on 29 June 2019. Click to know more about these unsung heroes!
Eight government servants, working in different departments across Bengaluru, were recognised for their unflinching commitment to creating a better city with their actions. They were honoured at the ‘Seva Samman’ awards, an initiative of The New Sunday Express, on 29 June 2019. Click to know more about these unsung heroes!
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Archana DS, Police Constable, Bengaluru City Police: Very few people, in all walks of life, go beyond the call of duty to help someone in need. For Archana DS, a police constable deputed at the Electronics City police station, there was no need to even think twice as she rushed to breastfeed an abandoned baby who had been rescued by the police. In June last year, the rescued baby was taken to hospital to receive primary care and was brought to the police station after being discharged. When the little one didn’t stop wailing and all efforts by the men in Khaki failed, Archana stepped in and took charge. This native of Madhugiri in Tumakuru had just returned from maternity leave and her motherly instincts kicked in. She carried the baby, put him on her lap and fed him and like magic, the baby stopped crying. The police eventually named the baby Kumaraswamy, after the current Chief Minister.
Archana DS, Police Constable, Bengaluru City Police: Very few people, in all walks of life, go beyond the call of duty to help someone in need. For Archana DS, a police constable deputed at the Electronics City police station, there was no need to even think twice as she rushed to breastfeed an abandoned baby who had been rescued by the police. In June last year, the rescued baby was taken to hospital to receive primary care and was brought to the police station after being discharged. When the little one didn’t stop wailing and all efforts by the men in Khaki failed, Archana stepped in and took charge. This native of Madhugiri in Tumakuru had just returned from maternity leave and her motherly instincts kicked in. She carried the baby, put him on her lap and fed him and like magic, the baby stopped crying. The police eventually named the baby Kumaraswamy, after the current Chief Minister.
Chikkadeve Gowda, Assistant Teacher, Government High School, Uttarahalli: This teacher has donned several hats in his career of spreading education over the years. As an assistant teacher in Devanahalli, he created classrooms where students were studying under trees. The locals were so impressed that they gave the school five guntas of land to develop further. As a co-ordinator, he mobilised furniture, land and infrastructure for schools that had nothing to start with. After ensuring this, he came to the school at Uttarahalli, where he went door-to-door, convincing thousands of women working at beedi factories to send their children to school. He promised them he would care for the children as his own. The school was the first to have a smart class in the state, and among the few to have an Atal Tinkering Lab and saw an increase in student enrolment from 120 students in 2008 to 1500 students in 10 years..
Chikkadeve Gowda, Assistant Teacher, Government High School, Uttarahalli: This teacher has donned several hats in his career of spreading education over the years. As an assistant teacher in Devanahalli, he created classrooms where students were studying under trees. The locals were so impressed that they gave the school five guntas of land to develop further. As a co-ordinator, he mobilised furniture, land and infrastructure for schools that had nothing to start with. After ensuring this, he came to the school at Uttarahalli, where he went door-to-door, convincing thousands of women working at beedi factories to send their children to school. He promised them he would care for the children as his own. The school was the first to have a smart class in the state, and among the few to have an Atal Tinkering Lab and saw an increase in student enrolment from 120 students in 2008 to 1500 students in 10 years..
Mahesh, Junior Health Inspector, BBMP: This 38-year-old employee of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has several achievements to his credit. He was instrumental in getting the ‘Nirmala Graama Puraskar’ from the Union Government for Manchanayakanahalli Gram Panchayat for achieving open defecation free (ODF) status. Hailing from Hosadoddi in Magadi taluk, Mahesh has served as a junior health assistant at the Department of Health in Herohalli and later as the Taluk Nodal Officer in Ramanagara taluk. Deployed in the Vasanthpura ward of the BBMP, Mahesh ensured waste segregation lessons were given to all children studying in both BBMP and private schools. He spends a few mornings every month travelling with pourakarmikas, going door-to-door and sensitising people on waste segregation methods.
Mahesh, Junior Health Inspector, BBMP: This 38-year-old employee of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has several achievements to his credit. He was instrumental in getting the ‘Nirmala Graama Puraskar’ from the Union Government for Manchanayakanahalli Gram Panchayat for achieving open defecation free (ODF) status. Hailing from Hosadoddi in Magadi taluk, Mahesh has served as a junior health assistant at the Department of Health in Herohalli and later as the Taluk Nodal Officer in Ramanagara taluk. Deployed in the Vasanthpura ward of the BBMP, Mahesh ensured waste segregation lessons were given to all children studying in both BBMP and private schools. He spends a few mornings every month travelling with pourakarmikas, going door-to-door and sensitising people on waste segregation methods.
YN Gangadhar, Driver, BMTC: The city has seen many cases where motorists do not even stop for an accident victim. However, for 30-year-old YN Gangadhar, not stopping to help an accident victim was not even an option. This Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) driver who hails from Hassan, has been working in the city for the past six years and has an accident free record. In December last year, Gangadhar, passing by the scene of an accident, saw an injured policeman on the road, surrounded by a crowd. He immediately took the help of a few passengers as well as the conductor Srinivas T and drove the injured to the nearest hospital in the bus. He also waited there till the victim’s family members arrived. “Duty first. But saving a life is much more important,” is this hero’s motto.
YN Gangadhar, Driver, BMTC: The city has seen many cases where motorists do not even stop for an accident victim. However, for 30-year-old YN Gangadhar, not stopping to help an accident victim was not even an option. This Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) driver who hails from Hassan, has been working in the city for the past six years and has an accident free record. In December last year, Gangadhar, passing by the scene of an accident, saw an injured policeman on the road, surrounded by a crowd. He immediately took the help of a few passengers as well as the conductor Srinivas T and drove the injured to the nearest hospital in the bus. He also waited there till the victim’s family members arrived. “Duty first. But saving a life is much more important,” is this hero’s motto.
Lokesh HM, Police Constable, Bengaluru City Police: He is the man behind the stellar growth of the city police on social media. In the midst of fake news and misleading forwards, Lokesh, a Madikeri native, took on the task of representing the IT city’s police force online. He led a 14 member team as co-ordinator and the rest as they say, is history. The city police’s social media posts have earned them nationwide attention and praise, and are always in tune with the latest memes. When he started as the first member of the team, Lokesh said he had very little knowledge of social media. “We are trained to wield guns and lathis, but dealing with an online mob is a very different ball game,” he said. Today, the city police ahs over 1.2 million followers on Twitter and a simiar following on Facebook. The accounts also interact regularly with followers, taking down complaints or providing information.
Lokesh HM, Police Constable, Bengaluru City Police: He is the man behind the stellar growth of the city police on social media. In the midst of fake news and misleading forwards, Lokesh, a Madikeri native, took on the task of representing the IT city’s police force online. He led a 14 member team as co-ordinator and the rest as they say, is history. The city police’s social media posts have earned them nationwide attention and praise, and are always in tune with the latest memes. When he started as the first member of the team, Lokesh said he had very little knowledge of social media. “We are trained to wield guns and lathis, but dealing with an online mob is a very different ball game,” he said. Today, the city police ahs over 1.2 million followers on Twitter and a simiar following on Facebook. The accounts also interact regularly with followers, taking down complaints or providing information.
Narayanamma, Pourakarmika, BBMP: For over twenty-six years, Naryanamma has been working to keep our city’s streets clean. At fifty-seven, she still sweeps the city roads every morning, earning her the love and praise of the neighbourhood. In fact, during her career, when she was transferred out of an area once, the residents got together and demanded that she be returned to them. This humble pourakarmika started her job with a salary of just Rs. 200 per month and recalls those days when the city did not have proper roads. During her career, she has worked in Amruthahalli, Kempapura and is now working in Sahakara Nagar. She might lack a formal education but she is an expert in waste management. “I am eating proper meals because of my work and I am proud of it. We must keep the city clean like we keep our homes clean,” she said on Saturday.
Narayanamma, Pourakarmika, BBMP: For over twenty-six years, Naryanamma has been working to keep our city’s streets clean. At fifty-seven, she still sweeps the city roads every morning, earning her the love and praise of the neighbourhood. In fact, during her career, when she was transferred out of an area once, the residents got together and demanded that she be returned to them. This humble pourakarmika started her job with a salary of just Rs. 200 per month and recalls those days when the city did not have proper roads. During her career, she has worked in Amruthahalli, Kempapura and is now working in Sahakara Nagar. She might lack a formal education but she is an expert in waste management. “I am eating proper meals because of my work and I am proud of it. We must keep the city clean like we keep our homes clean,” she said on Saturday.
Shivareddy, Headmaster, Government High School, Immadihalli: Posted at the school since 2012, Shivareddy is fueled by the concern he has for the children who study in the school. During his tenure, so far, he has ensured aid of Rs. 1.5 crores for the government school, with financial support from NGOs as well.  For class 10th students studying for the crucial board exam, he managed to provide 360 solar lamps. Ten students from his school were also adopted by corporates last year, ensuring they continue their higher education in prestigious institutes. The science lab at this school, the brainchild of Shivareddy, is often visited by private school students as well. The school today has 500 students and sports an excellent computer lab and a proper midday meal shelter.
Shivareddy, Headmaster, Government High School, Immadihalli: Posted at the school since 2012, Shivareddy is fueled by the concern he has for the children who study in the school. During his tenure, so far, he has ensured aid of Rs. 1.5 crores for the government school, with financial support from NGOs as well. For class 10th students studying for the crucial board exam, he managed to provide 360 solar lamps. Ten students from his school were also adopted by corporates last year, ensuring they continue their higher education in prestigious institutes. The science lab at this school, the brainchild of Shivareddy, is often visited by private school students as well. The school today has 500 students and sports an excellent computer lab and a proper midday meal shelter.
Srinivas T, Conductor, BMTC: Aiding Gangadhar on that fateful day in December 2018 was conductor Srinivas T, a BMTC conductor for the past 12 years. Srinivas hails from Shikaripura in Shivamogga and resides in Nelamangala in Bengaluru. He was with Gangadhar when they rescued a police constable lying injured on the road in the evening. While onlookers were busy capturing the incident on their mobile phones, he and Gangadhar swung into action and managed to save the constable’s life. Srinivas is usually found on the Yelahanka to Nelamangala route and has a reputation as an honest conductor who always returns lost belongings of passengers.
Srinivas T, Conductor, BMTC: Aiding Gangadhar on that fateful day in December 2018 was conductor Srinivas T, a BMTC conductor for the past 12 years. Srinivas hails from Shikaripura in Shivamogga and resides in Nelamangala in Bengaluru. He was with Gangadhar when they rescued a police constable lying injured on the road in the evening. While onlookers were busy capturing the incident on their mobile phones, he and Gangadhar swung into action and managed to save the constable’s life. Srinivas is usually found on the Yelahanka to Nelamangala route and has a reputation as an honest conductor who always returns lost belongings of passengers.

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