Miss India's tryst with rural Haryana

GURGAON: Pantaloons Femina Miss India Earth 2011 Hasleen Kaur gained an insight into rural life on Monday when she met women from Bhondsi and Kherla villages as part of an initiative undertaken by the Navjyoti Foundation. "The kind of initiatives that the villagers have undertaken to improve their status is commendable," said Hasleen.
Students at the community college welcomed her with handmade cards and handicraft items like puppet dolls, and painted pots.The young women of the village were elated at meeting Hasleen. Reena Raghav, a 25-year-old student of tailoring and embroidery in the community college, said, "I am proud that a young achiever like her wants to know about us and our village. It makes me feel special and motivated," said Reena. The women posed with Hasleen for a group picture and later gifted her puppet dolls.
Hasleen later went to Kherla village and interacted with rural activists like Anita Raghav, winner of an international social work award, and Chamlesh Devi, who have been crusaders against alcoholism and female foeticide in Gurgaon’s villages. "It’s interesting to learn how these women have managed to make a difference," said Hasleen.