Cherie Blair hands over Rs 50 lakh to Dhilwan school

Kapurthala, Jan 12 (UNI) Cherie Blair, wife of former UK premier Tony Blair, today gave a cheque for Rs 50 lakh on behalf of UK-based Loomba Trust to upgrade infrastructural facilities of Government Senior Secondary School, Dhilwan, in the district.

Ms Blair, who is president of the trust, was accompanied by one of the trustees Mr Dharampal Loomba, who is an alumnus of the school.

The cheque was handed over to Deputy Commissioner J M Balamurugan under an MoU signed between Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Ms Blair yesterday to substantially upgrade the infrastructural facilities of the school on the basis of sharing 50:50.

Under the MoU, a cost of Rs one crore would be borne equally by the trust and the Punjab Government.

It was mutually agreed to rename the school as Shri Jagiri Lal Loomba Memorial Government Senior Secondary School, Dhilwan.

Addressing a gathering in the school, Ms Blair expressed her happiness over the agreement with the state government for the development of the school.

NRI Mr Loomba, a native of Dhilwan village, recalled his old days in the school. He is already giving annual scholarships to 18 students of the school.

Speaking on the occasion, the DC appreciated the contribution of NRIs who were coming forward for the development of their native villages.

A colourful cultural programme was presented by the school children in honour of Ms Blair on the occasion. Later, Ms Blair left for Amritsar to pay obeisance at Harmandir Sahib.

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