Mathura, Nov 10 (IANS) Actress-politician Hema Malini has adopted Raval village in Uttar Pradesh under the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address.

“People keep chanting Radhe Radhe in the entire Raval but no one has ever thought of developing this village across the Yamuna river. I am determined to restore (to) Raval its original glory by bringing it on the tourist map. On Nov 17, I will go to Raval and start the work. The village will symbolise women’s empowerment,” Hema Malini told IANS.

Raval is situated nine km from Mathura.

“The population of the village is about 4,500. It meets all the parameters laid down in the scheme. The village has remained neglected. But now it will receive the attention it deserves,” chief development officer Durga Shakti Nagpal told IANS.

Hema Malini selected Raval out of 179 villages in Mathura district for the scheme.