National
Diplomatic efforts required in managing disasters caused by floods: Rajnath
New Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS) Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday stressed the requirement of diplomatic efforts in managing disasters arising out of floods and sought help from neighbouring countries for sharing Hydrological data on rivers.
“Diplomatic efforts are required in managing disasters arising out of floods…Hydrological data on rivers should be shared by the neighbouring countries and a consensus needs to be developed in this regard,” he said while inaugurating the 13th Formation Day of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) here.
Rajnath Singh said a beginning in this regard will be made during Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Disaster Management Exercise to be conducted in New Delhi between October 10-13 and acronymed as BIMSTEC DMEx-2017.
In the first such exercise aimed at strengthening disaster management in South Asia, India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will conduct drills with BIMSTEC countries including Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal
This exercise will be a platform for sharing best practices on all aspects of disaster risk reduction, strengthening regional response and coordination for disaster management among the BIMSTEC member countries.
On this year’s theme of ‘school safety’, Rajnath Singh said the NDMA has covered a long distance in short time span of 13 years since its formation and that has established credibility of India across world.
He expressed happiness that India got appreciation due to NDMA’s work at Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting on Disaster Management held in Kyrgyzstan last month, where he had participated.
The Home Minister also said that he had moved a proposal to organise a Joint Urban Earthquake Search and Rescue exercise to improve collective preparedness and this proposal was accepted unanimously by all the members of the SCO.
“There could be differences on some issues among the countries, but we stand together in case of any disaster in the world…India had extended help to earthquake-hit Nepal in 2014 and also India had sent an NDRF team to Japan for help.”
On the occasion, Rajnath Singh also released National Disaster Management Guidelines on Boat Safety and Cultural Heritage Sites and Precincts. A study report on “Tamil Nadu floods: Lessons learnt and best practices” was also released.
Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba said on the event that legal and institutional systems in place for disaster management should be further strengthened.
“Our climatic conditions and density of population make us prone to disasters,” Gauba said, adding that 2 per cent of Gross Domestic Product is lost due to disasters.
–IANS
rak/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.