Ninety-year old Gandhian Professor (Dr) Prabhudutt Kheda residing in the tribal belt of Achanakmar in Bilaspur district was conferred with the maiden ‘Mahatma Gandhi Memorial National Award’ in a function held at historical Anand Samaj Library premises here on Tuesday.

The award carried Rs 5 lakh in cash and a citation.

Chief Minister Raman Singh while applauding the efforts, hard work and dedication of the veteran Gandhian Prof Dr Kheda, announced that the State government will take over the management of Higher Secondary School run by the veteran Gandhian .

He also immediately sanctioned Rs 20 lakh for construction of school building.

Prof Dr Kheda was asked how he would utilised his Rs 5 lakh award, to which he said that the amount would be spent on salary of the teachers.

He thanked the Chief Minister for announcing that the State government will take over management of the school and also sanction of Rs 20 lakh for construction of school building.

Prof Dr Kheda is working in Achanakmar area which is tribal dominated in Bilaspur revenue division. The area also falls under a Sanctuary area.

He is presently working in village Lamhni-Chaprava (present Mungeli district) for last three decades on education and health of tribal children.

Prof. Dr Kheda was born in year 1928 at undivided India in Lahore. After partition, his family in year 1947 came to Delhi as refugees.

He obtained his higher education and Ph.D after which he joined Government of India in Education Department and then National Council of Educational Research and Training.

Prof Dr Kheda was later appointed Social Studies Professor in Delhi University.

He along with students of Delhi University had arrived at Achanakmar for study tour. During this period, he saw the poverty among tribals and problem of education of tribal children. It was the turning point of his life. After that , Prof Dr Kheda retired from job in 1993 and started to live in a small hut. His efforts grew to present higher secondary school in the area and have now around 100 tribal children studying in the school.