Social worker G. Deepak from Belthangady has been chosen for the Mangaluru Press Club Annual Award 2025-26.

The award will be presented to him at the Press Club Day on May 24 in Mangaluru. It carries a citation and a purse of ₹10,001, said a release.

Hailing from a humble background, Mr. Deepak works as a bus driver for the ‘Sanidhya’ Skill Training Centre and manages a small business. Despite his limited income, he has been rendering social service.

To streamline his efforts, Mr. Deepak united like-minded local youths to establish the Rajakesari Service Trust. Under his leadership, the trust has executed over 600 service projects, including providing free houses to 34 homeless families, distribution of 21 sewing machines for self employment, providing 38 wheelchairs to the needy, organising free mass marriage for 12 couple etc.

Son of B. Gopala, a bus driver, and Kusuma, an employee of SKDRDP, Mr. Deepak began his career as a private bus conductor. His journey into social work began with helping a four-year-old child having heart ailment. With the help of friends, he collected required funds and was able to save the child’s life.

Founded in 2012, the Rajakesari Service Trust has grown from a local group to a district-level organisation with over 400 members. Notably, the members are not wealthy philanthropists but daily-wage workers, including auto drivers, mechanics, painters, and plumbers.