National
App-based taxi drivers’ strike leaves commuters troubled
New Delhi:Scores of commuters in the National Capital Region (NCR) faced huge problems on Saturday as most app-based taxi drivers have been on strike since Friday over financial issues with their partners Ola and Uber.However, in a statement, a Uber spokesperson said “a small group of people are disrupting the service in parts of Delhi and there have been isolated reports of threats and intimidation”.”We are working hard to ensure reliable rides are available for everyone and we can keep the city moving. We call on authorities to ensure the safety of riders and drivers,” said the spokesperson.
However, commuters like Rohit Yadav, 38, who is suffering from multiple sclerosis, are facing difficulties in hiring cabs. Yadav, who works at a private company in Gurugram, he is reaching office late since the last two days.”This is unfortunate… I have to pay extra money to reach office. Neither taxi drivers nor autorickshaw drivers are showing any sympathy to people like us who are suffering from chronic problems,” he complained.
Other commuters as well, who mostly depend on cab service to reach office, had to face similar troubles.”It’s pathetic! I reached my office late by an hour due to this strike,” Abhilash Mishra, who works in a private company, said.He also said: “As there were no cabs near my house, auto drivers were demanding twice the fare. They seemed to be taking benefit of the situation.””However, after trying relentlessly, I finally managed to book a private taxi,” he added.Vikash Pandey, who works in a private company also had similar stories to tell. Pandey told that earlier, he hired app-based service to reach office but now he has to take either cycle rickshaw or share autorickshaws.
“I have to change autorickshaw from different places as none of them is plying directly from my house to office. It is consuming extra time and also creating a burden on my expanses,” he said.A call was made for a general strike by Delhi Autorickshaw Sangh and Delhi Pradesh Taxi Union against the ever-changing policies of the app-based cab companies.One of the drivers told that these companies do not give the same incentives as they used to when they were first launched.”They lured drivers with attracting offers… due to falling fares, we could not earn a good amount of money,” a cab driver said.
Another cab driver told that their associations are demanding they should receive the fare as sanctioned by the government.He also blamed app-based service for the fall in earnings and demanded better perks, relaxed hours and accident insurance among other things.One of the drivers said the companies now prefer their own cars over the ones attached to them by other drivers.
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.