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Unable to get any family support to continue his education, 13-yr-old Harendra decided to earn to pay his education fees and also meet the daily needs of his family.

Thirteen-year-old Harendra Singh Chauhan is a new icon for the students of the country.

Unable to get any family support to continue his education, the ninth standard student collected some money, bought a weighing machine and sat at the gate of Noida City Centre Metro station six months ago. His plan appeared fruitful as he earned Rs 60 on the first day.

But he didn't have even the faintest of ideas that a single picture shot posted on a social website by a youth would suddenly bring happy tidings in his life.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday honoured Harendra for his indomitable spirit and gave away a cheque of Rs 5 lakh to him to continue his education.

"Since my father was not doing any work and my elder brother was also jobless, I decided to earn to meet my education fees and also support the daily needs of my family," said Harendra, who wants to join the defence services. Harendra lives with his father Ram Gopal Chauhan, mother and two brothers in a rented room in Noida's Hoshiyarpur village and studies in Sri Krishna Inter College.

They originally hail from Nagla village in Etawah, the home district of CM Akhilesh.

"Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Noida Rajesh Yadav called me in his office two days ago and told me that the chief minister wanted to meet my son and me. He accompanied us to Lucknow on Sunday. I feel ashamed of the fact that I am unable to support my son. I was in a job till recently. But they sacked me without a reason. Since then I am in search of a job," said Harendra's father Ram Gopal.

Besides Harendra, the chief minister also honoured a few others. They include 15-yearold Sushma Verma, who recently completed her MSc in bio-technology from Lucknow University and joined Bhimrao Ambedkar University for her PhD. She is arguably the youngest student in the country to join PhD in such an early age.

Krishna Kumar (65) was also honoured by the CM and received a cheque of RS 1 lakh. A freelance typist, he was thrashed and his type writer was damaged by a police officer recently. Earlier, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had given him a new typewriter.

"No officer has any right to insult anybody. I know that we cannot compensate with anything the insult inflicted on him. But we are trying to minimise his woes," Akhilesh said. Ramjit Yadav (60), a resident of Mirzapur who had recently saved three children from drowning, was given a cheque of Rs 5 lakh.

Some other people were also honoured by the CM for their role as good citizens.