Mangaluru: Amai Mahalinga Naik, an innovative farmer from Dakshina Kannada known as ‘Tunnel Man,’ received the Padma Shri award from President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday March 28.
The award was announced on the occasion of Republic Day.
Mahalinga Amai Naik is a skilled labourer who has turned his barren land in Kepu Village, near Adyandka, into a farm. He is known as ‘Suranga Man’ or ‘Tunnel Man’ because he used the traditional method of digging horizontal tunnels into hillocks to get water to convert his barren land into a lush green farm.
His determination and endurance not only assisted him in finding water but also assured that he had enough after completing all of the tunnels.
Other Kannadaigas who got awards includes H. R. Keshavamurthy, a well-known Gamaka singer, and Abdul Khadar Nadakattin, from Dharawad.