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Union Buget: No extra paisa for Environment, slash in pollution abatement fund

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New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Even as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley raised concerns over rising air pollution in his Budget speech, not a single extra paisa was granted to the Union Environment Ministry for this fiscal, while the funds for pollution abatement were slashed.

The Environment Ministry is proposed to be allocated Rs 2,675.42 crore in the 2018-19 Union Budget, the same as last year.

For year 2018-19, the government however seems more focused on tree-plantation drive, the sector that saw the biggest shoot in terms of funds allocation for a single programme.

Fund for Pollution Abatement under ‘Environment Protection, Management and Sustainable Development’ was reduced to Rs 20 crore this fiscal against Rs 21.20 crore for 2017-18, which was further cut down to Rs 7.50 crore under revised estimation in 2017-18.

The priorities too seem to have shifted in several key areas as the government’s tree plantation drive under “National Mission for Green India” recorded maximum hike with Rs 159 crore allocated for afforestation in 2018-19, an increase of Rs 52 crore over last fiscal.

The Centre also seems focused on conservation of the Tiger, Elephant and tackling Wildlife Crimes with more funds proposed. However it appeared on the backfoot with regard to biodiversity conservation where the funds were halved to to Rs 14.50 crore this financial year against Rs 30.21 crore in 2017-18.

For Project Tiger, the Centre has proposed Rs 350 crore against Rs 345 crore last year, and for Project Elephant the amount proposed is Rs 30 crore against Rs 27.50 crore in 2017-18.

Development of Wildlife Habitat is also set to receive more with Rs 165 crore proposed for this year, against Rs 150 crore in last fiscal.

Awareness drive, as hinted by the Union Environment Minister earlier, also became the government’s priority with Rs 7 crore diverted towards environment education, awareness and training. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was also granted extra funds with Rs 100 crore proposed for current fiscal against Rs 74.30

Surprisingly, no funds were allocated to Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) that received Rs 5.40 crore last fiscal,

Government also cut down the entire budget for the National Coastal Zone Management Programme from Rs 441.98 crore in 2017-18 (revised estimate Rs 152.50 crore), with no allocation made.

Funds for Conservation of Coral and Mangroves were also a big zero this year against Rs 18 crore in last fiscal, even with several reports pointing to degradation of coastal biodiversity.

In 2017-18, the Ministry got a hike of over Rs 300 crore than the budget 2016-17.

–IANS
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Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

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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.

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