Mangalore: A Mangalorean senior autorickshaw driver has won a rare award. Monthu Lobo (77) has bagged the state-level Sarathi No. 1 Award at the World Drivers’ Day celebrations held by the Indian Vehicle Drivers’ Trade Union at Bangalore on July 28.

Monthu Lobo is the Founder Member of the Mangalore Mahanagara Auto Rickshaw Chalakara Sangha (MMARCS) and has been in the field for 54 years. He has not been fined even once for flouting traffic rules and has already won laurels from various organizations.

Monthu prefers himself to be called a tea-man and keeps himself away from liquor. Though 77, he loves driving and leaves home sharp at 4 in the morning every day. He has studied upto class six and took to auto driving due to poverty. He could manage to have his own autorickshaw in 2008 and  presently lives with his wife, son and daughter-in-law. Even his son is an autorickshaw driver.