MUMBAI: Kareena Kapoor was elated when the weavers of the remote Chanderi village in Madhya Pradesh had gifted her a gorgeous hand-woven black and gold saree, which she even wore for a press conference of 3 Idiots.

However, she was saddened by the fact that there was no electricity whatsoever in the village because of which the weavers had no choice but to work in darkness with only candles as a source of light. Moved by their plight, Kareena has now given them a Rs 3 lakh (approximate) cheque to raise a solar energy plant and within two months the village will have electricity.

A source said, “Kareena had gone to Chanderi village in MP with Aamir Khan for the promotion of 3 Idiots. The weavers gave her the handmade saree and she also had dinner with them. However, she realised that it was extremely difficult for these workers to weave as there was no electricity in their village.

Consequently, she has now given the cheque to the village officials and is also speaking to several Bollywood friends to join her in the cause to bring electricity to all villages in the country. She didn’t want to only talk about it but to also come forward and do something constructive.”

Kareena said, “I was a little shocked to see how these people work. At the end of the day it’s our country and I learnt that there are about 100 villages in the country which have no electricity. I have handed over a cheque to the concerned authorities to build a solar energy plant. It’s a nominal amount but it can bring smiles to many faces, which is why I wanted to do this. I am told that in about two months, the plant will be built and there will be electricity in Chanderi.

I am also going to ask my friends in the film industry to come forward and make a difference,” she said.