News

Swaroop Sampat's kidding around

Tuesday, February 03, 2009 06:23 [IST]

Mumbai: Actress Swaroop Sampat (wife of Paresh Rawal) recently met up with Kirit Joshi, the educational advisor to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi to discuss concrete plans for setting up a Bal University in the state aimed at boosting educational facilities for children from low income groups. Joshi was originally an educational advisor to Indira Gandhi and was one of the main think-tanks behind the setting up of IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University).

"I'm trying to do my level best in whatever can be done to improve the children's educational structure. I couldn't have done it without the support of my kids and Paresh. Every 15 days I have to go to Gujarat and my family has been encouraging metremendously. That's very motivational especially when a woman is not bringing any money into the household through her work," Swaroop says.

She adds: "I was asked by Narendra Modi to work in his state and I'm happy that I can see progress. It will be very beneficial for many children who really need basic education. Gujarat will grow because children will be better educated."

Swaroop recently spent 10 days in Gujarat to spearhead a residential camp for 25 children belonging to backward classes. She says the project was aimed at educating these children about Mahatma Gandhi's principle of self-sustenance.

"These 25 kids were between the 3rd and the 7th standards. We had a camp in Sagra with five teachers and me and we taught them the Gandhian principle of doing one's own work. We had classes, played games with them, hosted dramas, etc. It was a training ground for these teachers too because they will teach others and their numbers will swell," she ends up saying.