National
Much of opposition to Aadhaar mere nuisance: Minister
New Delhi, Nov 23 (IANS) Much of the opposition to the use of Aadhaar cards for delivering government services on grounds of privacy being violated is a mere nuisance, Union Minister K.J. Alphons said here on Thursday.
Even getting a visa often requires providing a lot of personal information, which can run into several pages, the Minister of State for Electronics and Informtion Technology said at a session on the inaugural day of the fifth edition of the Global Conference on Cyber Space (GCCS) here.
“While people need to provide all personal information to a foreign country just for travel, all one needs to share to get an Aadhaar Card is their name and address, Kannanthanam said, adding that the biometric-driven identification system is revolutionising delivery of services in India.
It is benefiting the poorest of the poor by reducing cost of service delivery, the Minister said.
“Aadhaar is driving the country,” Alphons said.
The move to make the use of Aadhaar obligatory for availing several benefits, including under the public distribution system, has attracted criticism from different quarters.
In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court of India has declared privacy a fundamental right.
But the Minister emphasised that the Aadhaar card is actually helping empower the poorest of the poor.
“India is witnessing the biggest digital revolution in the world for the past three years. The objective is to give a voice to the voiceless,” Alphons said.
Speaking at the session that focused on bridging the digital divide, Ghana’s Minister for Communication Ursula Ekuful said: “We salute the progress India has made and continue to monitor its progress.
“It is a great initiative,” said Houlin Zhao, Secretary General, International Telecommunication Union, while referring to the Aadhaar identification system.
“India has engineered some marvelous innovation. Indian leaders should be more active in encouraging such innovation and bringing them to the world stage for the benefit of people in other parts of the world,” he added.
–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.