Cherie Blair inaugurates school in Punjab village

Dhilwan (Punjab), Nov 18 (IANS) Cherie Blair, wife of former British prime minister Tony Blair, Tuesday inaugurated the renovated building of a government school in Dhilwan village of Punjab's Kapurthala district.

Accompanied by millionaire non-resident Indian (NRI) Raj Loomba, who studied in this government school before making it big in Britain, Blair made her second trip to this village, 10 km from Chandigarh, to support the cause of the Pushpawati Loomba Trust set up by the NRI in memory of his mother.

'The United Kingdom has always had good ties with Punjab and NRI Punjabis have played a big role in the UK's development,' Blair said here.

'I am delighted to visit this school. I wish more girls come to study here,' Blair said as she opened her remarks with a 'Sat Sri Akal' and later joined the school students for a traditional dance.

When Blair was told that there were only 40 girls among the 300 students enrolled in the school, she said: 'It is women who make a country and society. More girls should come to study here.'

The school building has been renovated with a grant of Rs.5 million (Rs.50 lakh or about $100,300) by the Loomba Trust and a matching grant by the Punjab government.