Bhubaneswar: Though earning money after education could be the aim of life for many, but an Odisha youth believes in taking the path less tread. Engineer Ashwini Padhi from Bhubaneswar is setting an example for others by providing free education to the poor students living in slums.
After completing engineering, Ashwini was working in an IT company in Bengaluru. Later, he left the profession to open a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) centre in Cuttack. However, inspired by his parents Sudam Padhi and Runa Panda, who are teachers by profession, Ashwini decided to spend some time after his work and provide free education to the students mostly from slum areas that are unable to afford education. Apart from teaching the students, Ashwini also provides them study materials.
"I have been teaching the financially weak students from the slum areas for the last three years because I believe that education only can bring a change in the society," said Ashwini.
"I was influenced by my parents for this mission since my childhood," he added.
Students receiving education from Ashwini also expressed their gratitude and hailed him for his noble deed. "I am very happy that Ashwini sir is teaching us English, Hindi, Odia and Mathematics. While teaching he ensures that we learn properly," said Rahul Das, a student.
"It is almost a year that I am coming for the classes here. He teaches us very well without taking any money from us," said Puja Nayak, another student.