JOIN USActor Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) on Tuesday adopted a nondescript village on the outskirts of Chennai as part of his efforts to empower people in rural areas.
Kamal visited Adigathur village in Kadambathur taluk of Tiruvallur district, 70 km from here, along with his party members and participated in the 'grama sabha' meeting held on the occasion of May Day.
"I have not adopted the village for votes. I really believe that development of villages will take the country forward. We are here to ensure that the village gets all facilities," he said.
"Villages should show the way for the nation. Villages are the backbone of our country and that is why we have chosen to develop villages. If we get a chance, we would adopt all the villages in Tamil Nadu," Kamal said.
MNM, which was launched by Kamal in February, has plans to adopt one village in every district that will serve as a model for governments in the future to develop them on those lines.
The village has 650 families which primarily depends on agriculture and the villagers want clean drinking water and desilting of lakes and ponds.
Kamal spoke to the villagers about their grievances and held discussions on how to get them resolved. The actor-politician has already announced that his party would contest the impending local body elections.