Back-to-back honour for auto driver

 

DC highlighted his mission on July 23 and the readers wanted to appreciate his efforts by giving him money. But he never gave them his bank account details.

 

This is the second consecutive year that he receives the Trivandrum YMCA’s ‘street hero’ award. 

Ever since its office bearers tracked Mr Rasheed, he was in a dilemma as to what the award was all about.

 

He told DC that he didn’t work on the day he received the award out of tension and happiness. More than the cash award of '2, 500, he is elated at his ‘simple’ gesture being noticed and given recognition by an organisation like YMCA.

 

“I never expected that my service would be noticed by DC and that YMCA would honour me. This award would forever be etched in my life. I was dumbstruck when they asked me to sit in the front row of the august audience,” said Mr Rasheed whose humanitarian efforts have since been covered by local FM stations as well.

 

He also added that the recognition had motivated him to take his auto to RCC on hartal days also future.

 

His family members comprising his wife Nazeera Beevi, daughter-in-law Sanuja and grandchild Shahana also attended the proud moment.

 

It was an incident that happened four years ago that changed his life forever. With great remorsefulness, he recalled that he took the auto fare from the parents of a three-month-old baby girl affected with cancer that prompted him to give free rides to cancer patients and their relatives from RCC to nearby lodges or to Thampanoor Railway Station and bus depot.