59-yr-old MLA back to classroom for BA

Jaipur, July 22

Age is just a number for 59-year-old BJP MLA Phool Singh Meena, who has enrolled himself in a graduation course as he had to drop out from school after his father’s death.

A legislator from Udaipur (rural), Meena has four daughters, who encouraged him to study again. “After the death of my father, I had to drop out from school and take up farming to take care of my family,” Meena said. He said during a campaign to educate young tribal girls in the area, he felt the need to get educated and was encouraged by his daughters to get back to school.

He filled the examination form of an open board for Class X in 2013, but could not take the test due to his busy schedule as an MLA. But he successfully appeared for exams in 2016. Then in 2016-17, he passed Class XII.

Meena said he was inspired by PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign and encouraged ST and SC girls in his constituency to enrol themselves in schools.

He announced a free plane ride to Jaipur for girls scoring more than 80 per cent in secondary and higher secondary examinations. Now, he has announced the free plane ride for general category girls too.

Meena said though he encouraged others to get educated, he felt deep pain that he himself could not continue his studies beyond Class VII. “My daughters sensed the pain and motivated me to go back to school,” he said. — PTI