National
DMRC not sharing ridership details after fare hike: Sisodia
New Delhi, Oct 14 (IANS) Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday said that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was refusing to share details of Metro ridership following its fare hike.
Sisodia said that according to preliminary reports, there has been an increase of 65,000 in the ridership of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses after the fare hike.
“If metro is only for a premium class of Delhi, then what is the point of using thousands of crores of tax money of Delhi’s citizens for it?” he asked.
He questioned why the Centre was not allowing an inquiry into the hike.
The fares were increased from Tuesday despite strong opposition from the Delhi government, which had locked horns with the DMRC over the hike — the second this year.
Addressing the media on Saturday, Sisodia asked why a company like DMRC has a problem with sharing ridership data after the fare hike.
AAP leaders had earlier claimed that increasing fares would result in a fall in ridership.
Referring to an inquiry ordered into the hike, Sisodia said: “BJP should answer this: What did BJP do in the last three years that they have a problem with an inquiry?”
Earlier, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had directed Chief Secretary M. M. Kutty to order an inquiry into the Metro fare hike.
But the central government opposed the move.
“State Government has no authority to make an inquiry into the DMRC’s affairs,” a letter from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to Kutty read.
On Friday, the Delhi government said that Kutty refused Kejriwal’s direction to order an inquiry and added that he was working at the behest of the BJP.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that even if the central government does not allow an inquiry, a Delhi Assembly appointed committee will look into the fare hike.
Sisodia said that the metro fare hike was a conspiracy to hide a scam.
–IANS
nkh/in/bg
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.