BJP MP Hema Malini with PM Modi in New Delhi (PTI photo)
On Monday, BJP MP and actor Hema Malini announced that she has adopted village Raval, the birthplace of Radha, the companion of Lord Krishna, under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Vikas Yojana, a central scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
It is one of the 179 villages in Mathura district.
While other shrines in the region are visited by Krishna devotees, there are sometimes hardly any visitors to Raval.
When asked why she picked the village, Ms Malini told IANS: "The reasons were both practical and emotional."
She asked the villagers to focus on education, cleanliness, medi-care and abstain from liquor and drug addiction.
"No one has thought of developing this village. I am determined to restore Raval to its original glory. The village will symbolize women's empowerment," she said.
Raval is located nine kilometres from Mathura. It has a population of about 4,500 people.
The village has a small temple and a garden dedicated to Radha.