National
Kejriwal opposes Centre’s move to privatise IDBI
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday opposed the proposed privatisation of the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) and supported its continuation in the public sector.
Kejriwal’s support on the issue came after a delegation of IDBI Officers Association met him here on Friday and expressed their opposition to the Centre’s reported move to dilute its stake in the bank to less than 50 percent.
“Kejriwal opposed the proposal to privatise the IDBI, which will adversely affect around 20,000 bank officers across the country. He assured the delegation that he will write to the prime minister to seek withdrawal of the proposed move,” a Delhi government official said.
The delegation said union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely said in his budget speech in the Lok Sabha on February 29 that the Centre had no obligation to hold a minimum 51 percent stake in the IDBI, thereby effectively announcing the government intention to privatise it.
The delegation members said the announcement was a breach of an assurance held out in parliament by the then Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in December 2003, when the issue of IDBI privatisation was last taken up.
The delegation said that increase in the IDBI’s non-performing assets was wrongly being projected as the reason to privatise it.
The IDBI officers pointed out that the NPA figures of Rs.19,000 crore were wrong since nearly 50 percent of this amount was recoverable dues and that too from big corporates.
Opposing the privatisation move, IDBI officers and other employees observed a four-day strike from March 28 to 31.
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.