Rimsha Eram

In Narnoor, IAS officer Rajarshi Shah introduced Aarogya Patashala — a weekly school programme teaching hygiene, nutrition, mental health, and life skills. The result: healthier children, lower absenteeism, and habits that last a lifetime.

Watching unchecked construction strain Himachal’s hills, an NIT Hamirpur graduate chose a different path. His homes draw from time-tested Himalayan techniques to build structures that suit the land, climate, and communities they stand on.

From walking barefoot to school to unlocking Rs 5 crore in scholarships, K Narayana Naik’s lifelong mission is changing the future of rural students in Karnataka.