National
Siddaramaiah presents popular budget for poll-bound Karnataka (Lead)
Bengaluru, Feb 17 (IANS) With an eye on Assembly election, due in late April or early May, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday presented a popular state budget for fiscal 2018-19 to please all sections of society.
Barring 8 per cent increase in additional excise duty on Indian-made liquor, the budget spared the people from fresh taxes despite Rs 151.30 crore deficit on capital account (revised estimates) on steep hike in borrowings.
Delivering his 13th budget, sixth in a row as Chief Minister, by virtue of holding the finance portfolio, 70-year-old Siddaramaiah told the lawmakers in the Assembly that his government posted Rs 383.84 revenue surplus (revised estimates) as against Rs 136.54 crore budget estimates for fiscal 2017-18.
“For new fiscal (2018-19), revenue surplus is estimated to be Rs127.28 crore, while deficit on capital account is expected to be Rs 383.25 crore due to higher institutional borrowings and repayment of loans,” he pointed out.
Projecting Rs 1,03,444 crore tax revenue, including GST (Goods and Services Tax) compensation from the Central government for FY 2019, an increase of 12.78 per cent over the revised estimates of FY 2018, the Chief Minister said the non-tax revenue would be Rs 8,163 crore.
“We expect to receive Rs 36,215 crore from central taxes and Rs 14,942 crore as central grants. The revenue receipts will be supplemented by Rs 39,3128 crore as borrowings, Rs 75 crore non-debt capital receipts and Rs 129 crore from recovery of loans,” noted Siddaramaiah.
The budget expects state-run boards, civic corporations and local bodies to mobilise Rs 16,760 crore through internal resource generation and borrowings during the upcoming fiscal.
Among the new schemes, the budget has envisaged to strengthen the software of the IT network to make the police system citizen friendly across the state.
“The number of women in the state police department will be enhanced 25 per cent over the next years and all the women police stations in the district will be upgraded as one-stop service centres,” added the Chief Minister.
–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.