Deccan Chronicle

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Mahesh Babu’s wife Namrata is setting the right example to one and all with the social causes she is associatin­g herself with

- NAMRATA SRIVASTAVA — NAMRATA SHIRODKAR

Namrata Shirodkar Ghattamane­ni, the wife of actor Mahesh Babu isn’t just another celebrity spouse. Not only is she a former Miss India and an actress, a loving wife and doting mother, but she also takes care of many social initiative­s and charitable works of her husband. Although she hasn’t been in the limelight after her marriage, she is known for helping her husband with his business and promotiona­l activities of his ventures. She also looks over both the villages adopted by Mahesh. “It’s not about the limelight, work is more important to me,” says Namrata. Namrata met the Ranga Reddy District collector Raghunanda­n Rao recently and handed over a cheque of `30 lakh through NATCO trust for constructi­ng a school building in Siddhapura­m. Their agenda for both the adopted villages is to develop the state of health, education and hygiene there. “The thought of this initiative came to us after MP Jayadev Galla garu, who is also my brother-in-law, suggested us to adop t Burripalem, in Andhra Pradesh. Consequent­ly, we met KTR garu, who recommende­d that we adopt Siddhapura­m, in Telangana. It is something we thought would be very interestin­g and challengin­g too. This is us doing our little something to the society,” says Namrata.

She states that they have had immense support from others to develop these villages. “We are really thankful to KTR garu, who was instrument­al in raising the funds for the school building in Siddhapura­m and for other social activities. Jayadev garu too has been hand-holding us. He has helped us a lot with the drainage work in Burripalem. We have just completed the drainage work there. Also, Roopa Ram Maganti, who heads ` both the villages’ upliftment programmes has played an important role for the initiative,” says Namrata. Sudhir Reddy, who is a renowned architect from Hyderabad has agreed to design an eco-friendly school building in Siddhapura­m, which will be a first of its kind. Namrata plans to make a similar school in Burripalem too.

Since adopting both the villages, Mahesh and Namrata have organised many health camps and events. However, Namrata feels there is still a long way to go to make these villages, smart villages. “It’s a slow and challengin­g process, but I have learnt a lot from it, and I am still learning. I try to see that we get the best we can from all our sponsors, and those who donate for such cause.”

My priority is that the work, be it business, home or charity, should get done. As long as I see the work to its finish, it keeps me happy, and it doesn’t matter who did it

 ??  ?? INSPIRING: Namrata handing over a cheque of 30 lakh to the Ranga Reddy District collector Raghunanda­n Rao
INSPIRING: Namrata handing over a cheque of 30 lakh to the Ranga Reddy District collector Raghunanda­n Rao
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