Dr Shankare Gowda, aka Mandya's "5 rupees doctor", conferred with 'Indian of the Year' award

Bengaluru: Dr. Shankare Gowda, a well-known doctor from Mandya popularly known as the “five rupees doctor”, has been honored with this year’s ‘Indian of the Year-2022’ award by CNN News18.

Dr. Gowda, a dermatologist, is popular for his social service for treating patients coming to his clinic at a fee of just Rs. 5.

At an event organized in New Delhi, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari presented the ‘Indian of the Year-2022’ award in the category of Social Change to Dr. Shankare Gowda

“I have been practising since 1982, and have been charging Rs 5 for 40 years since I started my practice. Whatever knowledge we have, it should be imparted to everyone equally,” CNN News 18 reported Dr. Shankre Gowda as saying.

“There are so many doctors nowadays, but there is a shortage of doctors in rural areas… State government should make it compulsory for doctors to practice in rural areas for at least one year,” he added.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai congratulated Dr. Gowda for receiving the prestigious award. In a tweet in Kannada, he wrote: “It is highly commendable that Mandya doctor Shri Shankare Gowda, who is popularly known as the 5 rupee doctor, has received the award of #IndianOfTheYear of @CNNNews18. #IndianOfTheYear is a role model for all who dedicated his life to the service of rural people. Hearty congratulations to him.”