Student who gave piggy bank money to CM’s Gaja relief fund gifted a new cycle

Madurai: A Class II student who contributed his piggy bank savings towards Gaja relief works in the central districts was pleasantly surprised when district collector Sandeep Nanduri gifted him a new bicycle worth Rs 4,800 for the gesture.

Yogeshwaran, son of Balamurugan and Subapriya, who hails from Muthaiahpuram in Tuticorin taluk, is a student of AVS elementary school.

Upset over the sufferings of farmers and children like him in the delta region as Cyclone Gaja hit the area on November 16, he collected relief money from his school friends.

At the weekly grievances meeting held at the Tuticorin district collectorate on Monday, he took his piggy bank and the money collected from his friends and handed it over to the collector.

He did not know how much money he had in his piggy bank, but said that he wanted to buy a bicycle when the collector asked the purpose for which he had been saving money.

On opening the piggy bank the officials found Rs 806 in coins and currencies and sent it to the chief minister’s relief fund.

As a token of appreciation for his contribution at a young age, the collector decided to recognize him by gifting him a bicycle. It was bought with the funds collected under corporate social responsibility, the collector said.

Yogeshwaran was surprised at the unexpected gift as it would have taken many more years for him to save the money needed to buy one.