In a gesture of philanthropy, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar on Wednesday offered to promote the cause of the farmer suicide-hit families in Yavatmal district in the backward Vidarbha region, where maximum number of farmers have committed suicides have been reported in recent years.
The “Khiladi”-series actor gave an assurance to this effect to Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar when the latter met him in Mumbai and sought his assistance in prompting the cause of the families of agriculturists who have committed suicide in Yavatmal district, which is considered one of the worst for suicide-hit districts in the State.
“During the meeting, the Minister briefed the actor about the plans lined up by the Maharashtra Government to celebrate the Swabhimani Shetkari Varsh (self-respecting farmers’ year) declared this year. The actor, who has in the past helped farmers in the State, offered to promote the cause of families of suicide-hit farmers in Yavatmal district,” a senior associate of Mungantiwar said.
Though Akshay volunteered to help the families of suicide-hit farmers financially, the Minister told the actor, “At this juncture, we do not want any financial help from your end. However, we would like you to support the cause of families of farmers who have committed suicide on a maximum scale in Yavatmal district”.
Akshay, whose recent films “Äirlift” and “Rustom” have not only won him critical acclaim but also proved to be successes at the box office, readily agreed to promote the cause of farmer suicide-hit families in Yavatmal district. The actor assured Mungantiwar that he would visit the farmer suicide-hit villages in Yavatmal district shortly. “After visiting the affected areas, he would work closely with the Maharashtra Government in promoting the affected families’ cause. He may also adopt a few of the farmer suicide-hit villages in Yavatmal district,” Mungantiwar’s associate said.
On its part, the Maharashtra Government has chalked out a three-point programme to help and make the farmer suicide-hit families self-sufficient and have a sustainable livelihood. “Among other things, the State Government will be giving them solar charakas to the wives and other female members of farmer suicide-hit families and buying cloth produced by them,” a State Government official said.
This is not the first time that Akshay has associated himself with the activities of the State Government. In the past, the actor had donated `90 lakh to the drought-hit people in Marathwada region.