National
Himachal CM seeks tax exemption for industry
New Delhi, Jan 18 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday sought full tax exemption from the central government to the industry in the state for five years and 50 per cent for the next five years.
Speaking during the pre-budget meeting of Finance Ministers here, he also demanded a provision of interest subvention of seven per cent for a period of seven years to promote industrial development in the state.
The meeting was presided over by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
The Chief Minister demanded subsidy or viability gap fund for operating flights and heli-taxi services on the pattern of north eastern states in Himachal Pradesh for assisting in tourism promotion as well as disaster management.
He said the state has enormous possibilities for expansion of tourism activities and keeping this fact in view there is a need to promote air traffic.
He suggested that the union government should make an announcement regarding expansion of helipads of all state capitals from central budget besides making budgetary provisions for expansion and construction of airports in hill states.
He said environment protection would be a priority of the state government.
Thakur suggested reducing the corporate tax rate up to 20 per cent for further industrial development.
He said entrepreneurs in the state were denied the benefits of capital investment subsidy which ended in March 2017, adding although a special committee was constituted for preparing an extensive industrial policy for the hill states yet no announcements have been made so far.
He sought continuation of the central capital investment subsidy till the new announcements were made. He also urged for restarting freight subsidy scheme and reimbursement of transport cost of about Rs 5 crore at the rate of 75 per cent.
The Chief Minister also requested to enhance import duty on apple as was announced in the union budget 2018-19 so that interests of the horticulturists were protected.
–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.