Chennai should not become 'Corona capital': Kamal Haasan during 'Naame Theervu' launch

CHENNAI: Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan launched the ‘Naame Theervu’ (We are the solution) project on Friday which aims at bringing volunteers together to help get Chennai back on its feet as it is the worst-affected district in the State, suffering from the rapid spread of Covid-19.
The initiative is primarily to provide medical help, as well as personal protective equipment (PPE) in places where people gather. He said that the people had gotten "tired" of waiting for the State and Central government to do something and hence, it was time to be proactive.

"Naame Theervu is an attempt to do something on our behalf. Lakhs of people began helping people on their own thinking that they are the only solution. This is an effort to create a movement to save Chennai. We are creating a volunteer army to care for people who require it as we come out of the lockdown,” Haasan said.

He warned that Chennai should not go from being the 'medical capital' of the nation to the 'Corona capital.'

"We have already made our criticism about what the governments could have done, but this is not the time for criticism or petty politics. This is the time for us to become our own solution,” he said.

He said no State government can fight this infection alone and that the Tamil Nadu should take a leaf out of what was done in Kerala and Odisha where the governments actively involved volunteers to fight the battle.

“When each of us saves one person, no one will be left behind. People are the solution to those who need medical assistance, safety equipment, sanitisers and food and rations. Sanitiser dispensers will be kept at places where people gather frequently. Masks will be distributed as well. We need the participation and contribution of volunteers to take this forward,” he said.