National
Demonetisation will boost digital economy: Nandan Nilekani
New Delhi: Former Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India, Nandan Nilekani, has said the demonetisation “shock given to the currency” will boost digital economy. “The fact is that we have had a shock given to the currency system and, in my view, this will boost digital economy,” said Nilekani, who was in a conversation with Nalin Mehta at Times Lit Fest here on Saturday.
The former Infosys chief executive also went on to add that since there is a “loss in the confidence that people had in physical currency”, they will surely look for and adopt other alternatives. Asked by the audience to respond on the problems being faced by the people in rural areas particularly, Nilekani said he would not comment on the political decision but on the merit of the project.
“I know that there are some problems and there is going to be problems for some time but over the past seven years we have already created a system to digitise our economy,” said Nilekani. He also said that although “pain” will remain for sometime but the extent of digitisation that will happen over the next three months would have otherwise taken three years.
Nilekani added that the “need of the hour” should be “cashless payments to merchants”, which will go a long way in boosting digital economy. He also expressed hope that the government will increase the number of micro-ATMs in the country.
Asked to comment on whether the NDA government had carried on his Aadhar legacy and packaged it as their own, Nilekani said the success of the project was important. “I think I am happy that it has not only been accepted but also accelerated. My loyalty is to Aadhar. For me the success of Aadhar project is paramount”, said Nilekani.
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.