Adopt a village, but make sure it is not yours or your in-law's -- this was the pithy message that Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed to parliamentarians here Saturday - but with tinge of humour.
At an event to launch the MP's model village scheme here, Modi exhorted MPs to adopt any kind of village and turn it into a model of development.
He said the village should have a population of around 3,000-5,000 and that other guidelines have been provided in separate booklets.
"There is just one condition. Please ensure that you don't adopt your own villages or your in-law's villages," the prime minister said drawing peals of laughter from the audience.
The scheme envisages each member of parliament adopts three villages and turns them into models of development by 2019.
Many MPs, including those from the Congress, attended the launch programme.
