New Delhi, June 25 -- This is the story of a man who was once a beggar and now earns an honest livelihood.

Manickam, a physically challenged individual, sells bondas (a deep-fried South Indian potato snack) and repairs slippers and umbrellas in Mangaluru, Daiji World reported.

He lost one of his legs in childhood, but never gave up and kept moving forward.

Originally from the Salem district in Tamil Nadu, Manickam has been living in the Mangaluru district of Karnataka for the past 35 years.

After arriving in Mangaluru, he initially resorted to begging, as he had no work. However, after a stay at a state government-run shelter, he turned his life around and became self-reliant.

At the shelter, he was discouraged from begging and encou...