Prez confers Padma award to Dakshina Kannada’ s tunnel man ‘Amai Mahalinga Naik’

Mangaluru: President Ram Nath Kovind conferred Padma Shri awards to Amai Mahalinga Naik, an innovative farmer from Dakshina Kannada who is also known as “Tunnel Man”.

The award was announced on the occasion of Republic Day.

H R Keshavamurthy, a renowned Gamaka singer and Abdul Khadar Nadakattin, from Dharwad are others Kannadaigas who received the awards.

Amai Mahalinga Naik is skilled labourer who has converted his barren land into a flourishing farm in Kepu Village, near Adyandka.

Naik is often referred to as ‘Suranga Man’ or ‘Tunnel Man’ because to convert his barren land into a flourishing farm, he resorted to the traditional approach by digging horizontal tunnels into hillocks to get water.

His determination and perseverance not only helped him find water but ensured sufficient supply after he completed digging all the tunnels.