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Kavita Oberoi

Kavita Oberoi

Kavita's a Secret Millionaire...

Multi-millionaire Kavita Oberoi talks to BBC Radio Derby about giving up her luxury lifestyle for a far more stark existence as part of a new TV documentary.

With a personal fortune valued at £10m, Kavita Oberoi is one of Derby's most successful businesswomen.

In just six years, the Hazelwood mother-of-two has turned her healthcare IT company into one of the most successful new enterprises in the country.

So why on earth would 38-year-old Kavita swap her luxury lifestyle for a life of poverty for Channel Four's fish-out-of-water series 'The Secret Millionaire'?

Kavita Oberoi

Kavita Oberoi

She told BBC Radio Derby's Aleena Naylor: "I've always wanted to be in a position to do something that would have an impact on other peoples' lives.

"Suddenly out of the blue I got a call from the programme makers and I knew this was my opportunity.

"I've always donated to charity since I started working at the age of 15. My father was an entrepenuer but even now people are more likely to talk about his philanthropy."

The programme involves rich and successful people moving to some of England's most deprived areas to sample the same lives as residents there.

At the end of each episode, the 'Secret Millionaire' finally reveals their true identity and donates money to individuals and organisations who've particularly impressed or moved them.

Kavita travelled to Ladywood, an area of high unemployment in Birmingham, and spent two weeks living on a budget of £8-a-day jobseeker's allowance.

As she struggles to find a volunteer project which hasn't already closed down, she meets some of the people who call Ladywood their home and listens to emotional tales of hardship and suffering.

She said: "I found people I really connected with. I'm a motivated, driven, ambitious person and I had this perception that the people in Ladywood wouldn't be like that.

"But that was absolute rubbish. People had the same desires and ambitions as me but they had barriers in the way which stopped them meeting their full potential."

At the end of the programme, Kavita is seen handing out thousands of pounds of her own money to help improve life in the area but she's keen to point out her commitment didn't come to an end when the cameras stopped rolling.

Kavita explained: "This is just the start. I've now become a director with one of the charities. It was never just about making the programme - I didn't want to just turn up and give money away.

"At first I was disappointed to be sent to Birmingham because I know it quite well and I'd wanted to be sent somewhere miles away.

"But I'd never been to Ladywood and in the end it's the best thing that could have happened because I'm only an hour away and can go back regularly.

"I work hard for my money but now I feel like I've seen the true value of it because you can't put a price on somebody's life."

You can watch Kavita Oberoi on 'The Secret Millionaire' on Channel Four at 9pm on Tuesday, 12th August.

last updated: 11/08/2008 at 16:19
created: 11/08/2008

You are in: Derby > People > Your Stories > Kavita's a Secret Millionaire...



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