Educating the girl child is being widely appreciated by the Indian TV viewers. Afsar Bitiya which has won the hearts of the viewers completed 200 episodes tonight. The cast and crew are thinking of throwing a party on the weekend.

The protagonist Krishna is now aiming even higher in her career. When the show started she wanted to become a BDO Officer, now she wants to become an IAS Officer.

Mitali Nag who plays Krishna said, "Many shows nowadays go off air in three to six months. So it is quite an achievement that Afsar Bitiya has just completed 200 episodes. This show is an inspiration to young girls who want to study. Marriage is often considered as a speed breaker for Indian girls who want to study further. Krishna is however continuing to study post marriage."

Kinshuk Mahajan who plays Krishna's husband Pintoo Singh told us, "My fan following has increased further after Afsar Bitiya, not just online as on india-forums.com but offline too. Our show is very popular in Bihar and among Biharis all over India. The labour class (Bihari auto rickshaw wallahs and those working in petrol pumps in Mumbai) have told me they love my character on the show."

Producer Raakesh Paswan was inspired by the real life story of his sister Payal Raj who overcame all challenges to becoming an IAS Officer. He told us, "Girls who want to study can relate to our show. Village girls have returned to their books after watching our show. Girls who were being forced to work as child labourers now are insisting on studying instead so that they may become Afsar Bitiyas like Krishna."

    •    Reporter and Author: Pallavi Bhattacharya