National
Opposition disrupts RS over linking benefits with Aadhaar
New Delhi : The Rajya Sabha was disrupted on Thursday as some opposition members shouted slogans against the Centre’s stance on making the Aadhaar card compulsory for BPL families to receive benefits.
Members of the Trinamool Congress, Left, Janata Dal-United, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) raised the issue soon after the house met.
Ramgopal Yadav of the SP said the central government has asked the states to give subsidies only to those who have an Aadhaar card.
“The Centre has asked states not to give subsidies to those who do not have an Aadhaar card. Forty per cent of the people don’t have an Aadhar card,” Yadav said.
TMC member Derek O’Brien said the Centre is not consulting states on the issue despite talking about cooperative federalism.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) member Dilip Kumar Tirkey said: “In Odisha, 20 per cent of people do not have Aadhaar card. This is a important issue.”
Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu rose to respond to the concerns raised by the members, but opposition members started shouting slogans.
Naidu then said the opposition wanted to politicise the issue and did not want a response.
He said Aadhaar card is “not compulsory”.
“We cannot make it compulsory till every one gets it,” Naidu said even though the opposition members continued their protest.
“We raise issues in parliament to get answers. They raised a relevant issue. I don’t think any one has a problem with Direct Benefit Transfer, in case Aadhaar is completed. DBT is the need of the hour; it will eliminate middlemen,” Naidu said.
Opposition members then trooped near the chairman’s podium raising slogans, which Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien called “unjustifiable” after the minister’s response.
In the din, Kurien adjourned the house till 12 noon.
The scene was the same when the house met for question hour.
Naidu criticised the opposition for “politicising” the issue.
As protests continued, the house was first adjourned for 15 minutes and then till 2 p.m
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.