Mumbai: While his normal role is under the arc lights, actor Rahul Bose will now step into a new one. He will be lending a hand in providing education to needy kids from the tsunami-ravaged Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Actor, director, writer, social activist and national-level rugby player — Rahul Bose has donned several hats. On Tuesday, he unveiled his latest project — a wonderful and ambitious plan to bring promising children from the remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands to good residential schools in India.

The actor announced the establishment of a foundation to administer the Andaman and Nicobar Scholarship Initiative that will provide scholarships to six boys and girls from the islands, based on their scholastic proficiency and extra-curricular talent. The students will go to the prestigious Rishi Valley School near Bangalore during the next academic year.

Although the project will initially cover only six children, the foundation will spend a great deal of money, around rupees two crores, over the next six years.

The actor was asked why he is not spending such a large sum towards bringing basic education to a larger number of students. Bose replied that his idea was to create a group that would bridge what he called 'a psychological schism' that exists between the islanders and mainland Indians.

"The initiative envisions an India where the people of Andaman and Nicobar find a place in mainstream Indian society," he said.

Following 2004 tsunami, Bose made his first visit to the islands as part of a team working for the rehabilitation of survivors. Bose stated that for the last six months he and his team have been working to put the project together.

Rahul chose Rishi Valley School for its relatively egalitarian atmosphere. "If we send the children to an elitist school, they would be lost there."

The school has agreed to slash fees for the scholars. donations from individuals and Corporates fund the travel expenses for the children and visiting parents.

The pupils will be chosen from 100 schools in rural areas of the islands. However, those from the urban Port Blair area which has a few good schools will be excluded.

The selection panel will include educators and representatives from the Rishi Valley School who will be involved in the process of chosing the children for their extracurricular talent, interpersonal skills and scholastic proficiency.