Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Jan 1: Ishwaradka Shivakumar from Dugaladka here has become the winner of the first prize in Karunya lottery of Kerala. The amount of the prize is Rs 80 lac.

Shivakumar is the son of Babu Maniyani from Ishwaraqdka. He has been driving an auto rickshaw at Dugaladka since the last 15 years. He also works as the pump operator of Dugaladka ward of the town panchayat here.

Shivakumar had visited Adoor temple on December 29. When returning home, he had bought a Kerala government's lottery ticket. He checked online later and found that the ticket he was holding had won the top prize. He then contacted his relatives in Kasargod. He will have to fulfill procedures to claim the amount and after taxes, he might get around Rs 55 lac, it is said.

Shivakumar confessed that he had bought lottery tickets even in the past but he is happy at getting the prize at last. He said he wants to build a house for his family as he does not have a proper house to live in. He also plans to undertake improvements in the Bhoota Chavadi attached to his house, and set aside some amount for the welfare of poor people here.

After the news spread, Shivakumar is seeing a stream of relatives and well-wishers who have been queuing up to congratulate him.