National
Top Coast Guard official to oversee entire west coast
Mumbai: The central government has appointed an officer of the rank of additional director-general to head the complete operation of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on the vulnerable west coast, it was announced on Wednesday.
Inspector-General S.P.S. Basra has been promoted to the rank of additional director-general and assumed charge in Mumbai on Wednesday, an official said here.
The appointment assumes importance in the wake of a controversy involving former Deputy Inspector-General B.K. Loshali, the Chief of Staff of ICG North West Region based in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar.
Loshali has claimed that he had ordered the blowing off of a suspicious Pakistani vessel off the west coast in the Arabian Sea on New Year’s eve, contradicting the government’s official version.
The government’s stand in the matter was that ICG ships had chased the suspicious vessel and the four men aboard it had set it ablaze.
Following an embarrassing political and diplomatic uproar, Loshali was forced to retract his statement. Later, he was served a show-cause notice and removed from the crucial post pending a board of inquiry against him.
The ICG said on Wednesday that the new appointment is in tandem with the government endeavours for giving impetus to ICG operations.
“In order to meet the evolving asymmetric maritime challenges and takeover envisaged responsibility of coordination of new matrix if coast security mechanism, enhanced responsibility towards maritime search and rescue, pollution response and extensive surveillance of EEZ, the new post was created,” the ICG said in a statement.
Basra will be in-charge of the entire ICG West Region comprising the maritime states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands and the union territory of Daman and Diu.
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.