National
Note ban, ‘money tree’ showcased this Durga Puja
Kolkata, Sep 15 (IANS) The fantasy of plucking crisp currency notes off a “money tree” comes alive at a Durga puja celebration here, while raising the question if money is indeed eternal or has a timespan like the humans who use it.
Themed ‘Notebandi Na Manush Bandi’ (Is it a note ban or keeping the public captive), the pandal (marquee) of Mitra Sanghati, a well-known club in north Kolkata, mirrors a run-down house with a 20 feet tree growing in its courtyard. And this tree with its spreading branches which have currency notes growing out of them in place of leaves is billed as the prime attraction.
“The tree is a physical representation of the ‘money tree’. It is crafted from straw, natural fibres such as jute and replicas of demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes make up its leaves,” Mridul Biswas, Joint Secretary of the organisation, told IANS.
Elaborating on the concept of ‘money tree’, he said: “When we ask a person for something, sometimes that person questions sarcastically ‘do I happen to have a money tree’. So the idea revolves around this figment of imagination of having all the money one desires.”
Placed at vantage locations inside the Rs 12 lakh-marquee are frames portraying how various groups of people dealt with demonetisation that was announced on November 8 last year.
“There are the corporates as well as the common man. Suddenly money became nothing. So the question arose: Does money also have a lifespan just like us,” said Biswas.
He said the organisers had written to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee apprising her of the idea.
“Since she was the first one to speak against demonetisation and for the common man, we apprised her of our theme. We have received a letter from the Chief Minister wishing us all the best,” Biswas added.
Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress has been on the warpath with the Central government over demonetisation.
She has criticised the Centre for the decline in GDP growth, saying her apprehension of “drastic decline in productivity” due to demonetisation had proved to be true.
–IANS
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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.