Rajasthan: 59-yr-old BJP MLA Phool Singh Meena enrolls back to school

BJP MLA Phool Meena Singh, 59, from Udaipur, Rajasthan, has decided to go back to school after almost 40 years. 

Meena had dropped out of school following his father's death. He has four daughters, who encouraged him to study and enroll in school. 

"After death of my father, I had to drop school and take up farming to take care of my family," Meena told PTI.

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The politician wanted to take up studies after he felt his talks at schools were sounding hollow due to his lack of knowledge. The MLA, had earlier studied till Class VII. 

He filled the examination form from an open board for class 10 in 2013, but could not take the test due to his busy schedule as an MLA. But he appeared for exams in 2016 and cleared it. Then in 2016-2017, he passed class 12.

Meena said he was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Beti Bachao Beti Padao campaign and encouraged ST and SC girls in his constituency to enrol themselves in schools. He announced free plane ride to Pink city Jaipur for girls scoring more than 80 per cent in secondary and higher secondary examinations.

He said, "Two students were provided free plane rides to Jaipur in 2016 and six in 2017. They were felicitated by the chief minister and her cabinet colleagues and also given a tour of the state Legislative Assembly." 

As Meena does not get free time to attend classes due to his busy work schedule, his teacher, Sanjay Lunawat, a principal from the government senior secondary school at Manvakheda near Udaipur, helps the MLA by providing him study material. 

"While encouraging others to study, I felt deep pain that I did not complete my education. My daughters sensed the pain and motivated me to go back to school," He said.

Meena, who recently appeared for BA first year exams, believes if the people's representatives are educated than only they can motivate others.