National
Focus on children in the areas hit by natural calamities, SC tells NDMA
New Delhi, Sep 5 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to pay “special attention” to the children in the areas hit by natural calamities including floods that are engulfing most parts of the country as they are the most vulnerable targets at the times of natural disasters.
Directing the NDMA to “attach special attention to the children in the event of disaster”, the bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta said that they are the most “vulnerable” victims in such situations.
The court direction to NDMA came in the course of the hearing of a public interest plea by the NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) centred around the missing children.
The court in the course of the last hearing on August 2 had said that all the issues that have been raised by the NGO have been taken care of through the several judgments of the top court delivered from time to time and the only issue that remains to be addressed is that of missing children and tracing them.
Senior counsel H.S.Phoolka, appearing for the NGO, urged the court to direct the NDMA and the State Natural Disaster Management Authorities to establish special children units for the protection of children in the areas hit by natural calamities.
He told the court that vulnerable children in calamity-hit areas exposes them to trafficking, forced marriage or bonded labour.
Besides directing NDMA, the top court also directed the State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights to monitor the implementation of the special operating procedures for the missing children including registration of FIRs.
The court order came as Phoolka told the court that after the recovery of the missing children, no FIR is registered.
Citing the gravity of the situation, Phoolka told the court in 2016, 73,919 children went missing, out of which 31,843 were traced but 41,078 remain untraced.
The court also asked the National Crime Record Bureau to compile data on the missing children – something that is not being done till now.
On the vacancies in the NCPCR and the SCPCR, the court said that it would pass order in another case relating to vacancies.
–IANS
pk/vd
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.