National
Bill on rights of transgenders introduced in Lok Sabha
New Delhi:In a landmark move, the central government on Tuesday introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha to give the transgender community a separate identify and also remove all stigma associated with the community.
Union Social Justice Minister Thawarchand Gehlot introduced the bill after Speaker Sumitra Mahajan rejected the argument from Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) member N.K. Premchandran, who was opposing the introduction.
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016, seeks to set up a mechanism to protect transgenders from exploitation, also seeks to do away with discrimination against the community and giving them the right to “self-perceived” gender identity, officials said.
In April 2015, in a pathbreaking decision, the Rajya Sabha passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill which incidentally was introduced in the upper House as a private member bill by the DMK member Tiruchi Siva.
The Bill now introduced by the government in Lok Sabha also mentions equipping every establishment with a grievance redressal process to ensure protection from harassment and discrimination.
It also aims at empowering the transgender community, and allows for stringent punishment for crimes committed against transgender persons in India, which home to 6 lakh people from the community, according to the 2011 Census.
The Union cabinet on July 20 under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved the bill.
“Through this bill the government has evolved a mechanism for their social, economic and educational empowerment,” an official announcement had said.
The draft legislation, government says, will benefit a large number of transgender persons, mitigate the stigma, discrimination and abuse against “this marginalized section”.
The new law will help bring the community into the mainstream of society, an official source added.
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.