World
Nepal’s inflation rate reached seven-year high of 12.1 percent
Kathmandu:Nepal’s inflation rate reached nearly seven-year high of 12.1 percent in January due to prolonged strikes in the Tarai region and disruption on trade routes in the southern parts of the country, the country’s central bank said on Sunday.
It is the first time that inflation in Nepal crossed 12 percent after June 2009, according to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the central bank of the country.
The last time when inflation was higher than now was in May 2009 when it stood at 12.4 percent, Xinhua news agency reported.
Nepal faced four and half month long blockade in its southern border crossings causing supply disruptions not only of imported goods but also the delivery of goods within the country due to shortage of fuel.
Nara Bahadur Thapa, chief of research department at NRB said supply constraints created gap between demand and supply causing double digit inflation. Most of the food items witnessed double digit price rises in January with prices of pulses and cooking oil spiking the most.
Pulse price soared by 46.9 percent, which according to Thapa, is due to supply constraints as well as its soaring prices in India where its production decreased massively in 2015.
Likewise, prices of cooking oil soared by 31.3 percent due to disruption in supply of its raw materials which are imported from far away countries like Argentina and Brazil, according to NRB.
From among the non-food items, prices of clothes and footwear soared highest of 13.7 percent. Their prices increased massively as delivery of cheaper Chinese footwear and garments to Nepal was disrupted from both land and sea route, said Thapa.
Usually, Nepalese traders import cheaper Chinese goods through bordering Chinese Khasa market but the road reaching there from Kathmandu has not been operational since deadly earthquake hit the area last year.
Supply of these goods through the sea route was also disrupted due to obstruction in Nepals southern border crossings, said Thapa.
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.