National
Vijayan hails Kerala diaspora meet, BJP disagrees
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 12 (IANS) The two-day ‘Kerala Loka Sabha’ that started here on Friday could well be an engine for the future growth of the state, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said inaugurating the first-of-its-kind event.
Held at the banquet hall of the state assembly, the event resembled a legislature in session.
There were 351 members, including 141 legislators, parliament members from the state and some 130 selected representatives of Kerala-based organisations from within and outside the country, taking part in the event.
Vijayan said: “This is the first event of its kind to be held in the country. This would be held once in two years.
“The discussions and deliberations that take place in the next two days, could well be an engine for the future growth of Kerala.
“This sabha could be the vital link…, as all through the past several decades, the contribution of the Kerala diaspora through their remittances turned out to be the lifeline for the state.
However, he said they had no avenue to air their views and it’s here that this Sabha will come useful,” said Vijayan.
Vijayan assured the gathering that all the discussions and debates that would take place in the event would be taken forward to its logical conclusion.
“For this to become an effective event, the parliament members from here should take them forward and seek the Centre’s participation… The state alone will not be able to do it,” added Vijayan.
Kerala Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan and a panel of seven members are coordinating the two-day event which includes panel discussions on Kerala’s economy.
The deliberations and recommendations would be documented and serve as a ready reckoner when it comes to formulating decisions concerning the diaspora, it was said.
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson P.J.Kurian congratulated the Vijayan government for holding the event.
However, state BJP chief Kummanem Rajasekheran shot it down and said this was nothing but a meeting of “representatives of the CPI-M party who have their organisations abroad”.
“This can be said as a meeting of CPI-M well wishers as several respectable organisations from abroad who have been working among the Kerala diaspora has been left out.
“Moreover it should be noted that a few of the selected representatives have even cases registered against them by the CBI,” said Rajasekheran.
Two members from Melbourne were found protesting in front of the state secretariat as they claimed their “very respectable and decades old Kerala diaspora organisation was not included”.
“We only want to highlight that the selection process was faulty and we want it to be rectified,” said Thiruvallam Bhasi and Varghese John .
–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.