Coimbatore, Mar 19 (UNI) Actor-politician and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) Founder Kamal Haasan today promised to set up Makkal Canteens (people’s canteens) on the lines of the defence canteens and State Eligibility Entrance Test (SEET) instead of NEET, if it was voted to power in the April six Assembly elections.

Releasing the MNM’s manifesto in this Textile city from where he is making his electoral debut, he said people can get all items at affordable rates in Makkal canteens.

However, he said people should not confuse it with Amma Canteens introduced by the AIADMK where lunch and breakfast, besides chappathis for dinner are being provided at subsidised rates.

He also promised to introduce a separate entrance exam for medical colleges, ‘SEET’, on the lines of NEET.

Promising a honest and corrupt-free government through AI empowered governance, he said ‘we will provide sustainable development and connected smart infrastructure’.

As part of Knowledge Resolution, Kamal said the MNM will provide quality smart education for all and assured quality
healthcare.

Self reliancy of rural areas will be ensured through various schemes, he said, adding reservation will continue till the
reserved are uplifted, carbon neutral cities, green clean villages and energy dependence will be achieved.

Assuring universal basic income to all people living below the poverty line, he said none in the society should be felt
alienated.

‘We will come up with clean, green pollution free industrial and environmental policies are our priority’, Kamal said.
He also promised to introduce total prohibition in a phased manner.

He said the MNM manifesto is a vision document with a 10-year time frame and not a plaster to merely cover current problems.

“It is not a plaster to just cover current problems like the State’s debt. The manifesto is not like those of others,
offering freebies. It is an organic, living document,” he said.

Noting that the freebies like washing machines announced by the ruling AIADMK would only increase the debt burden of the State, Kamal said the manifesto is the MNM’s vision document for the State, to bring it out of debt by not
only increasing revenue, but also promoting growth.

This was to protect the State’s rights and if it was not possible the MNM would fight a legal battle with the Centre, he assured. He also promised to turn profitable State-run enterprises by making the employees share-holders.(uni)