Mangaluru: Padma Shri awardee Harekala Hajabba seeks support for new PU College building
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Mangaluru: Padma Shri recipient and ‘Akshara Santa’ Harekala Hajabba has appealed for assistance to build a permanent structure for the newly established Government Pre-University (PU) College in his village. Though classes began a year ago, the college still functions without its own building, forcing students to manage in limited space.
Hajabba, who has dedicated his life to education in his native Harekala, fears that the lack of proper infrastructure may lead to a drop in student enrolment next academic year. Despite personal hardships, including the recent loss of his wife, the 68-year-old is tirelessly meeting government officials, legislators, private institutions, and companies, urging them to help fund the project.
After years of efforts, the government had sanctioned 1.30 acres of land for the college on November 21, 2022, near the Gram Chavadi area in Harekala. Later, on January 9, 2024, the Department of School Education and Literacy officially approved the upgradation of the existing government high school into a PU College. Classes began during the 2024–25 academic year, with the college temporarily functioning from the high school building.
The Public Works Department prepared a blueprint and estimated the construction cost at Rs 5.30 crore in June 2025. Speaker U T Khader also wrote to the Education Minister on July 8, requesting early release of funds. Meanwhile, Hajabba continues to pursue both government and private support.
Local contributions have already started coming in. Belthangady MLA contributed Rs 5 lakh towards the project, and the P.A. Educational Institutions donated furniture worth Rs 6.5 lakh. A borewell has also been installed, and the land has been levelled for construction.
Hajabba said, “We have started the PU College, but without a proper building, it will be hard to sustain student interest. I hope the government and private donors will extend their support so that this college can stand as a lasting symbol of rural education.”
Currently, the college runs Arts and Commerce courses. The first PU batch has 11 students, including two boys and nine girls, while the second-year batch has 13 students, eight boys and five girls. The college functions with guest lecturers and a principal in charge.
Hajabba, who opened his first school in 1999 in a small madrasa building, became a symbol of selfless service to education in rural Karnataka. His determination to provide learning opportunities for children in his village continues to inspire many across the country.
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ED attaches fresh assets in PMLA case against Reliance Group; total attachment over Rs 10K cr
New Delhi (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate has attached fresh assets worth Rs 1,120 crore as part of its money laundering probe against the companies of Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani, officials said.
Eighteen properties, including the Reliance Centre in Mumbai's Ballard Estate, fixed deposits, bank balance and shareholding in unqouted investments of Reliance Anil Ambani Group have been provisionally attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said.
Another set of seven properties of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd, two properties of Reliance Power Ltd, nine properties of Reliance Value Service Private Ltd, fixed deposits in the name of Reliance Value Service Private Ltd, Reliance Venture Asset Management Private Lt, Phi Management Solutions Private Ltd, Adhar Property Consultancy Pvt Ltd, Gamesa Investment Management Private Ltd and investments made in unquoted investment by Reliance Venture Asset Management Private Ltd and Phi Management Solutions Private Ltd have also been attached, they said.
The ED had earlier attached properties worth over Rs 8,997 crore in the bank fraud cases related to Reliance Communications Ltd (RCOM), Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd, and Reliance Home Finance Ltd.
The total attachment in the case against the Reliance Group is now Rs 10,117 crore.
