Maharashtra to rope in B-town biggies to support initiatives

The Maharashtra Government plans to rope in Bollywood celebrities to support and promote its initiatives in select sectors and also to provide assistance to set up agri-businesses for farmers.
The government has approached some well-known names in the Hindi film industry to popularise its initiatives in sectors like animal husbandry, dairy development and fisheries, a Minister said.
Mahadev Jankar, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister, told PTI he was buoyed by the response of Tata Trusts which announced setting up of a veterinary hospital in Navi Mumbai in association with the NGO People For Animals.
"The response of Tata Trusts was a decisive factor for me to approach celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra and Aishwarya Rai among others.

"I have written to some of these celebrities and spoken to a few others. Their response has been positive. According to their convenience, I will invite all for a meeting on how to take the issue forward," he said.
Starting allied agri-businesses like backyard poultry, goat farming, fisheries for farmers in the suicide-prone districts of Vidarbha and Marathwada is an important initiative of the government, Jankar said.

The minister said Akshay has provided financial assistance to farmer widows. He also purchased a 5 acre land near Mumbai and gave it to landless cultivators who grow organic products on it.
"We want him to start an app for farmers like he did for jawans (to help them financially)," Jankar said.

Jankar said he has written to Shah Rukh and others seeking their contribution to make farmers self-reliant.
He listed various projects undertaken by his department - mobile vans for animals in distress, vaccination for stray dogs and cats, shelter and conservation of indigenous cows, women entrepreneurship schemes for rural and tribal areas, veterinary clinics in urban centres, production facilities for clean and hygienic milk.