Venkatagiri Govt School girls praised for honesty after returning gold, cash-filled wallet

Five students from a government girls’ high school in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati district have earned widespread appreciation for their exemplary honesty after returning a wallet containing gold ornaments and cash to its rightful owner. The incident took place in Venkatagiri, where students of the ZP Girls High School demonstrated remarkable integrity by immediately handing over the lost wallet to the police. The act has drawn praise from public representatives and officials, including Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha and IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh.

The students, B. Gurupriya, B. Geethika, and M. Geethika of Class 8, Padmashri of Class 6, and Hemalatha of Class 7 are residents of Kothapalli Gunta village and study at the government-run school in Venkatagiri.

According to officials, the girls were waiting for a bus near the State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Venkatagiri on Thursday evening after school when they noticed a wallet lying on the ground. Upon opening it, they discovered that it contained gold ornaments and cash. Without hesitation, the students decided to take the wallet to the Venkatagiri police station, where they handed it over to Sub-Inspector Swarupa.

After submitting the wallet, the students returned to the bus stop. There, they encountered a woman who was anxiously searching for her lost purse and asking passersby if they had seen it. Realizing that the wallet belonged to her, the students informed the woman that they had already handed it over to the police. They then accompanied her to the police station, where officers verified the contents and confirmed her identity before returning the wallet to its rightful owner. Police officials appreciated the students for their responsible conduct and honesty.

Reacting to the incident, Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha praised the girls for their moral values and described their action as an inspiration. In a message shared on social media, she said the honesty displayed by the students made her feel proud at a time when ethical values appear to be fading in society. She commended the girls for immediately approaching the police and ensuring that the valuables reached the rightful owner.

Meanwhile, IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh also lauded the students’ integrity. “Our girls are gold in honesty,” Lokesh remarked while congratulating them. He said their conduct at such a young age sets a powerful example for society and reflects the values promoted within the state’s education system. The minister added that the students’ actions have brought pride to the education department and serve as a reminder that strong moral values among young people continue to shape a better society.