A teacher at a government school in Kathua, Gurnam Singh, who was a recipient of the National Teachers’ Award 2018, from President Ram Nath Kovind in Delhi on September 5, has said that he utilized the funds provided by the government honestly, for improving the infrastructure of his school.

'Best moment of my life': Gurnam Singh on being felicitated by the President  

“I never worked with the expectations of getting an award someday, I just did it for myself. I also tried to improve the infrastructure of schools I was posted at. We just utilised the funds with honesty, the funds that are provided by the government for schools,” said Gurnam Singh on Sunday. He also said that being felicitated by the President was the best moment of his life. Gurnam Singh added the honour has increased his responsibilities and he will work with thrice the energy.

READ | National Teachers' Award conferred to 46 teachers by President Kovind

The President felicitated around 46 teachers from across the country, on the 61st year of the National Teachers’ Award event. Speaking on the occasion, President Kovind said, the foundation of character-building is laid in schools. “For students, teachers are like parents. Teachers should understand their fundamental responsibilities. In order to have a new smart generation, we have to teach them how to maintain a balance between knowledge and discretion,” he said.

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This prestigious award carries a silver medal, a certificate and a cash reward of Rs 50,000. The awards are given to teachers who have not only contributed to improving the quality of education but also enriched the lives of the students. The list of teachers to be awarded was already released by the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD).

About the Teacher's Day celebration on September 5 

President Kovind took to Twitter, to extend his greetings on Teachers’ Day. He said, “On Teachers’ Day, I pay homage to Dr S. Radhakrishnan & extend greetings to all our teachers. They infuse young minds with strong values & inspire them to be curious, to seek knowledge & to dream. Doing this, they contribute immensely towards nation-building.” Leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar were among the many others who extended their greetings on the occasion of Teachers' Day. 

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Teachers’ Day is celebrated across the country in the memory of Dr S Radhakrishnan, who was born on September 5, 1888. Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan served as the first Vice President of India and the second President of India, and was an exemplary teacher as well as a philosopher, scholar, and politician.

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