National
Reopen historic routes between J&K, Central Asia: Mehbooba
Jammu, Dec 16 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has advocated reopening of ancient trading routes between the state and Central Asian countries, official sources said on Saturday.
This will help the state, which is the gateway to Central Asia, open up to the outside world and its opportunities, she said at the India Ideas Conclave 2017 at Panaji in Goa on Friday evening.
An official statement issued here on Saturday quoted her as saying that re-opening the traditional/historic routes will enable to script a new history.
Mehbooba Mufti said Jammu and Kashmir shoudl be made a model state with connectivity all across so that it becomes a model for SAARC cooperation in the region.
She also said that the state’s residents ought to be have a sense of belonging because the idea of India is incomplete without the idea of Jammu and Kashmir. “Reconciliation is the way ahead,” she said.
The Chief Minister said that amnesty to Kashmiri youths involved in stone-pelting was aimed at giving them another chance to lead a peaceful life hereafter.
The appointment of an interlocutor by the Centre on Kashmir was a way forward for reconciliation, she said.
“Though both the Peoples Democratic Party and Bharatiya Janata Party had ideological differences on many issues, their alliance is aimed to get Jammu and Kashmir out of uncertainty, and connect state’s people with those in rest of the country.”
On the return of migrant Kashmiri Pandit families to the Valley, the Chief Minister said not only her government, but the whole Kashmiri society wants them back honourably.
She said the government was taking many steps to this end.
The Chief Minister appealed to the media to play a crucial role in bringing people and communities closer.
She said some media houses through irresponsible coverage of incidents ended up creating more discord and acrimony among different people and communities.
–IANS
sq/tsb/vm
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.