Kiran Prakash Zarkar receives National Teacher Award

Kiran Prakash Zarkar, a Craft Instructor at the Bhai Uddhavrao Patil Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Dharashiv, Maharashtra, has been honored with the National Teacher Award. The award was presented by President Droupadi Murmu at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on September 5, marking Teacher’s Day.

Zarkar was recognized for his significant contributions to vocational education, skill development, research, and social service. His achievements include developing the ‘Skillbook’ computer system for the ITI sector, holding one patent, one trademark, and having authored 16 books and three research papers.

Beyond technical instruction, Zarkar led a public campaign to secure scholarships and financial aid for economically disadvantaged students, gathering signatures from 10,000 citizens and resolutions from 250 gram panchayats. The award includes a memento, a citation, and a cash prize of fifty thousand rupees.