National
Centre doesn’t support Tripura tribals’ demand for separate state: Minister
Agartala, Aug 28 (IANS) The Centre did not support the tribals’ demand for a separate state in Tripura but would consider setting up a State Autonomous Development Council (SADC) if the state government so proposed, a Union Minister said on Monday.
“The NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government at the Centre does not support the demand for a separate state in Tripura. Instead, it will consider setting up the SADC if the Left Front government sent a proposal,” Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram told the media after a day-long visit to the state.
Claiming that there was no development of tribals in Tripura, the Minister claimed the Tripura government had “misutilised” funds given by the central government for the development of tribals.
He said the existing Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) was functioning like a state government department in violation of the constitutional mandate.
Accompanied by tribal leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Minister said many tribal leaders who met him in northern Tripura had accused the state government of non-development of tribals.
Several tribal parties, including Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), have been agitating for upgrading the TTAADC into a separate tribal state.
TTAADC has jurisdiction over two third of Tripura’s 10,491 sq.km. area that is home to over 12,16,000 people, mostly tribals.
The IPFT had blocked National Highway-8, the lifeline of Tripura, and the lone railway line in the state for more than 10 days from July 10 over their separate state demand, causing acute shortage of essential items.
After intervention by the state and central governments, besides Governor Tathagata Roy, the IPFT lifted the blockade on July 20.
Almost all political parties, including Communist Party of India-Marxist led Left Front, the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party and other tribal parties, including Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura, have rejected the demand, saying it was not practical to divide the small state.
–IANS
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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.