National
Rs 2,600 cr package for leather sector to be launched
Chennai, Jan 30 (IANS) Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu is expected to launch a Rs 2,600 crore special package for the leather and footwear industry which is expected to generate around three lakh jobs, said a Council for Leather Exports official on Tuesday.
Prabhu will launch it while inaugurating the 33rd edition of India International Leather Fair, Mukhtarul Amin, Chairman, Council for Leather Exports, told reporters.
Amin was here to brief the media about the India International Leather Fair 2018 in which 475 companies from India and overseas are participating. The fair will be held at the Chennai Trade Centre here.
According to him, the Council for Leather Exports is working on various programmes to utilise the Rs 2,600 crore grant given by the Central government within three years – the stipulated time.
He said the special incentive package will be for human resource development in the sector, setting up of mega leather, footwear and accessories clusters, integrated development of leather sector, leather technology, innovation and environment protection, promotion of Indian brands overseas and others.
Amin said the industry was now looking at diversifying its markets by focusing on the US and Russia – big markets for leather products.
He said the Council had engaged experienced consultants in the US to promote Indian leather products there and also arrange meetings with potential buyers.
He said the Bangladesh leather industry had become a major threat for Indian exporters owing to cash incentives given by the government and cheap labour there.
Further, leather goods from Bangladesh were not subject to duty by importing countries.
According to the Council for Leather Exports, the Indian leather industry was pegged at $17.66 billion and exports accounted for around $5.67 billion during 2016-17.
–IANS
vj/pgh/mr
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.