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{{Short description|Indian social worker}}
{{Infobox person
| pre-nominals =
|image = D Prakash Rao.jpg
|caption =
|image_size =
|alt =
|birth_name = Devarapalli Prakash Rao
|birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1958|11|11}}
|birth_place = [[Cuttack, India]]
|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2021|01|13|1958|11|11}}
|death_place = Cuttack, India
|nationality = Indian
|other_names =
|known_for = Social Worker
|education =
|alma_mater =
|religion =
|spouse = Vijayalakshmi
|relatives =
|children = 2
|awards = [[Padma Shri]] (2014)
|signature =
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
'''Devarapalli Prakash Rao''' (known as '''D Prakash Rao''') (November 11, 1958 – January 13, 2021) was an Indian social worker from [[Odisha]]. He was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] by the then President on the occasion of India's Commonwealth Day in 2014 for the provision of education and blood donation for the poor and orphaned children living in various slums in [[Cuttack]]. He owned a tea shop.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-01-29|title=चहावाल्याला पद्मश्री पुरस्कार जाहीर, जाणून घ्या त्यांचा प्रेरणादायी प्रवास|url=https://www.loksatta.com/desh-videsh-news/story-of-incredible-inspiring-odisha-chaiwala-devarapalli-prakash-rao-who-won-padma-shri-for-2019-1831715/|access-date=2021-08-01|website=Loksatta|language=mr-IN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-03-16|title=चाय वाले को मिला 'पद्मश्री', बेमिसाल है इनकी कहानी|url=https://www.jansatta.com/rajya/president-ram-nath-kovind-awarded-odisha-cuttaks-tea-seller-d-prakash-rao-with-padma-shri-jsp/946604/|access-date=2021-08-01|website=Jansatta|language=hi}}</ref>

==Early life==
De Prakash Rao was born on November 11, 1958, in [[Cuttack]]. His father's name was D Krishnamurthy and he was a soldier in the British Army. His mother's name was De Lakshmi. His wife, Vijayalakshmi works as a nurse at Sri Ramchandra Bhanj College of Medicine. The Rao couple has two daughters named Haripriya and Vanupriya.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.sambadepaper.com//imageview_215807_32036289_4_71_14-01-2021_20_i_1_sf.html|access-date=2021-08-01|website=m.sambadepaper.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=From a mere chaiwala, I have become a Padma Shri chaiwala: Devarapalli Prakash Rao - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/from-a-mere-chaiwala-i-have-become-a-padma-shri-chaiwala-devarapalli-prakash-rao/articleshow/67804613.cms|access-date=2021-08-01|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

==Social work==
Rao founded a school called ''Asha O Ashwasana''. He started the school after seeing young children in local slums deprived of education and abstaining from alcohol and petty crimes. He arranged for children from first to third grade to be taught there. Currently, there are 80 students studying there.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-01-27|title=Tea Seller Runs School With His Meagre Earnings. This Padma Shri Awardee Is An Inspiration|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/padma-shri-tea-seller-who-runs-school-for-80-slum-kids-with-his-meagre-earnings-is-an-inspiration-for-all-361120.html|access-date=2021-08-01|website=IndiaTimes|language=en-IN}}</ref> He spent half of his income from the tea shop on running the school. He has donated blood 214 times.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How Life Changed For Cuttack Tea Seller After PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/cuttack-tea-seller-prakash-rao-life-changed-after-narendra-modi-mann-ki-baat-1859860|access-date=2021-08-01|website=NDTV.com}}</ref> He also decided to donate his body after his death.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Otv|first=News Desk|title=Meet D Prakash Rao: A Tea seller who turned 'Messiah' for slum children|url=https://odishatv.in/odisha/body-slider/d-prakash-rao-tea-seller-who-turned-messiah-for-slum-children-264347|access-date=2021-08-01|website=Meet D Prakash Rao: A Tea seller who turned ‘Messiah’ for slum children|language=en}}</ref>

==Death==
Rao died on 13 January 2021, while undergoing treatment at the Cuttack General Hospital. He tested positive for [[COVID-19]] in December.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-14|title=Padma Shri awardee Prakash Rao dies at 63|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/padma-shri-awardee-prakash-rao-dies-at-63-7145384/|access-date=2021-08-01|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
* [[Padma Shri]] (2014)<ref>{{Cite web|last1=BhubaneshwarJanuary 26|first1=Mohammad Suffian|last2=January 27|first2=2019UPDATED|last3=Ist|first3=2019 08:15|title=Padma Shri chaiwala's life lesson: Do your duty, world will recognise you|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/padma-shri-chaiwala-s-life-lesson-do-your-duty-world-will-recognise-you-1440040-2019-01-26|access-date=2021-08-01|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>
* Human Rights Award (2016)<ref name="a">{{Cite web|date=2018-06-03|title=After burst of fame by meeting PM Modi, Cuttack tea-seller back on hunt for funds|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/after-burst-of-fame-by-meeting-pm-cuttack-tea-seller-back-on-hunt-for-funds-5201889/|access-date=2021-08-01|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>
* Annie Besant Award (2015)<ref name="a"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Padma Award winners of Odisha}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, Devarapalli Prakash}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in social work]]
[[Category:Social workers from Odisha]]
[[Category:People from Cuttack district]]
[[Category:Social workers]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in India]]

Devarapalli Prakash Rao - Revision history

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