National
Direct Delhi Metro to withhold fare hike, Kejriwal urges centre
New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday urged Union Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Puri to direct Delhi Metro to withhold the “unjustified” fare hike till its decision is jointly reviewed by the Central and Delhi governments.
In his letter to Puri, Kejriwal demanded that a board meeting of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) should be convened to stay the proposed fare hike as the corporation is jointly owned by the central and the Delhi government.
He pointed out that Delhi residents were still reeling under the impact of the previous “steep fare hike” which came into effect in May and said the proposed second fare hike from October 10 “will be simply unacceptable in this time of economic distress”, a government statement said.
Kejriwal said while the Fare Fixation Committee had recommended a gap of one year between two fare hikes, DMRC was going ahead with the second hike “even before six months after implementation of the previous fare hike”.
“The Fare Fixation Committee recommended that from 2019 onwards, the annual fare hike should take care of inflation but should not exceed seven per cent per annum. This principle is being completely overlooked in the fare hikes being planned for 2017 which, put together, will exceed 80 per cent in one year alone,” he wrote.
“In several slabs, the increase will be 100 per cent, which is quite appalling. There is no reason why the principles to be followed from 2019 onwards should be completely violated in 2017,” Kejriwal wrote in his letter.
He pointed out that the committee also advised DMRC to raise funds through real estate development on the lines of the Hong Kong Metro and to improve productivity to cut down costs which would lead to a “much lower increase” in fares.
The AAP leader said no initiatives by the DMRC were visible to improve efficiency so it could reduce costs.
“Their effort is to pass on all costs and inefficiencies in the form of a higher fare to be imposed on the ordinary commuters,” he wrote.
–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.