MANGALURU: Fondly called the ‘Scholarship Master’, K Narayana Naik, 83, visits more than 350 colleges across undivided Dakshina Kannada every year to educate and help them avail themselves of various scholarships. According to him, Naik, who started this initiative before his retirement, was able to help students receive scholarship amounts totalling about Rs 5 crore over the years.Every morning, Naik sets out of the house on his two-wheeler or takes public transport, visiting PU, ITI, polytechnic, and degree colleges across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi throughout the year. He creates awareness of the various scholarship facilities meant for them. “Every year, I reach nearly 350 educational institutions,” said Naik.“I took up this initiative when I was about to retire from service in 2001. I started as a full-time service in 2007 and have been reaching out to every educational institution, starting from schools, UG colleges, B.Ed colleges, polytechnics, and ITI colleges in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. The reason I started is that, as a teacher, I was fully aware of the hardships of poor students as they struggle with finances to pursue education. I have first-hand experience of it. On Friday, I am visiting a college in Hebri and Muniyal. I started my day at 6:30 am,” said Naik, who worked as a teacher in various primary and high schools. He conducts all the sessions free of charge.Asked whether his health permits him to ride a bike and travel every day, Naik says that he is healthy and can travel across the region. “Earlier, I used to travel to many places by bike. However, I take public transport if the distance is more than 25 km,” he said.
