Aim to develop village as befitting birthplace of Radha: Hema Malini

Mathura, Nov 17: Emphasising on girl education as one of her top priorities, actor-turned-politician Hema Malini on Monday sought cooperation from people of her adopted village in the district in developing it as a "befitting birthplace of Radha Rani".

"I have adopted Rawal Bangar village. However it does not mean that no effort would be made to develop other villages. Brijbhumi would be converted into an ideal village", Hema said while addressing villagers of Rawal Bangar, which she has selected as a model village under the Centre's 'Adarsh Gram Yojana'.

Earlier Hema had received the proposal of developing nearly three dozen villages. However, after visiting this (Rawal Bangar) village I realised that development of this village would be "befitting work" for the birthplace of Radha Rani.

"The development itself should speak that it is the village of Radha Rani", she added. The MP from Mathutra also sought people's cooperation in realising her plans for the village. "Since it is the birthplace of Radha Rani, and during last five decades no effort has been made to develop it, I have selected this village.

Speedy development however depends upon the cooperation of villagers", she said. She said that her stress would be on education, specially the girl education.

Hema: The development itself should speak that it is the village of Radha Rani

"While my first priority would be on education specially the primary and junior stage. A small hospital would be my another priority", she said. She also has a plan for the education of adults. Setting up of cottage industry and saving the youth from the evil of consumption of gutka (chewable tobacco) would be her another priority.

"My stress, now also would be on inculcating moral and ethical values in the youths", she said. Appreciating the gesture of the city MP to develop birthplace of Radha, Lord Krishna's consort, former UP Minister Ravi Kant Garg, expected that it would pave the way for the development of surrounding areas which so far was "neglected".

There was tremendous excitement among the villagers after they came to know that their village has been selected for making it an ideal village. "We would cooperate with Hemaji in her mission of development of Rawal village", Jagdish Sharma, pradhan of the village said.

PTI