National
Himachal proposes Rs.4,800-crore annual plan
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh Thursday said the state government has proposed an annual plan outlay of Rs.4,800 crore for the next fiscal which was Rs.400 crore higher than the last annual plan.
Presiding over the meeting of the state planning board here, he said the government proposed to make a provision of Rs.1,209 crore under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan, Rs.432 crore under the Tribal Area Sub-Plan and Rs.60 crore under the Backward Area Sub- Plan.
An official statement quoting the chief minister said that for the social welfare sector an outlay of Rs.1,842 crore was proposed. “The social welfare sector has been top priority and is 38.37 percent of the total plan estimates.”
For transport and communication, a sum of Rs.887 crore has been proposed, which is 18.5 percent of the total plan outlay, he said.
Considering the importance of the energy sector as an important component for development, he said an outlay of Rs.642.20 crore, which included loan and equity to the Asian Development Bank-assisted projects, has been proposed.
In the horticulture and agriculture sectors the proposed outlay is Rs.512 crore, which is 10.7 percent of the total plan outlay, the chief minister said.
Expressing gratitude to the 14th Finance Commission, Virbhadra Singh said the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission have come as a bonanza for the state, which would see a 232 percent increase in the allocation of funds.
The hill state, whose economy depends largely upon tourism, horticulture and hydropower generation, has got the enhanced grant of Rs.40,625 crore as recommended by the 14th Finance Commission.
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.