SUPRIYA SULE

Supriya Sule



YOUR TIME STARTS NOW!



Will this NCP MP who happens to be Sharad Pawar's daughter be able to live by the clock?



"Politics is 80% social work and 20% politicking," your father says and you often quote. How does one maintain this balance within a corruptible system?

By keeping that adage at the back of one's mind as a conscience and a positive attitude. There are people who have done good work within this system.



You've studied water pollution for a year at Berkeley, California and worked with tribal minorities for five years. How would you safeguard these concerns against "large scale investment leading to rapid economic growth" which your father speaks of?

By creating an awareness and instigating joint programs with citizens and government involved. We have to realize all of us are responsible.



And a politician's responsibility? The upper limit for parliamentary election expenditure is 25 lakhs. With an average of 3 candidates per constituency (there being 544*******), that's 408 crores spent on election advertisement, while another farmer starves to death…

I think the upper limit should be reduced. Though an amount has to be spent on reaching out to people, some 'advertisments' are ridiculous in general. Like hoardings put out congratulating people for Ganpati for instance, whereas 'Ganpati congratulations' are absurd! I've specifically asked for my picture to be removed from such!



You were an avid contributor of suggestions for the Right To Education Act. Why is it so difficult to implement education programs?

There are issues like funding and hiccups with the faculty. But mainly it's the program dropout rate. You need to sustain programs for five to seven years for results.



Many schools are operating as businesses in the guise of trusts. Solution?

Have a public school per area where everyone from that area goes. People who want to choose the expensive private trusts still can. There are schools like Bal Mohan and Parle Tilak Vidyalaya which are doing great work though.



What about education for minority upliftment?

There we need to have career counseling programs along with education, which would make it more practicable.



Marriage. Then 10 years in Singapore. Then 5 years in social service. Early this year you were not going to venture into politics. In July you were inducted into NCP. And now, the Rajya Sabha membership at 38, by which age your father had already become chief minister. Is this late start sudden… or planned?

I don't see my work as an MP as separate from that as a social worker. Joining politics was using the honour and responsibility of representing the people of my state in the Rajya Sabha to broaden the platform.



Why at the national level and not state?

Because that's the opportunity I happened to get.



Rumour is that your handling national level and Ajit Pawar's handling state is planned – to avoid a rift.

Well, I can't control speculation.



How will this politician make time for her children?

The same way women who work all day, travel by train and then cook for their families do.



The agriculture sector – an essential sector, has shown a low income growth percentage compared to the industry and service sector. Why isn't India shining?

Knowledge has to be spread to the farmers as to the technicalities like the inputs required per acre… also quality seeds. But most importantly irrigation. But agriculture has been highlighted in the last two years with better irrigation as a result. Rather than SOPs people have o be shown the best ways of putting profits back into the 'businesses'.



Maharashtra faces a development dichotomy, with Western Maharashtra being much better off than Vidarbha, Marathwada and certain Konkan sections.

Investment and development vary with local leadership. MLAs have to create a corporate atmosphere to pull investment. But Parbani and Aurangabad are doing well, and the Boeing project will see Vidarbha through a boom.



You'd declared 16 crore worth of personal assets while joining the Rajya Sabha. Doesn't such wealth hinder a 'mass leader's image'?

It's my husband's hard earned money which I've had no qualms about declaring. People should look at the work I do rather than whether I have 10 or 100 rupees in my pocket.



FREUDIAN SNIP



Legacy: Carried on by a person of the same vision ad commitment



Congress: Very hopeful



Health: A healthy India



Marriage: Happiness, family



Mentor: Parents