National
Kejriwal demands audit of DMRC, stay on fare hike till report
New Delhi, Oct 1 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday demanded an independent audit of the Delhi Metro’s accounts and a stay on the proposed fare hike till this report is received.
“… there is an immediate need for an independent audit of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) accounts, since residents of Delhi have already experienced how the private power distribution companies (discoms) used to hike power tariffs by showing fake losses,” he said, according to a Delhi government statement.
“If the commuters would not be able to use the Metro because of high fares, what would be the utility of running the Metro,” he asked.
The Delhi government had opposed the hike proposed in September last year, said Kejriwal, and decried the “manner in which the views of the elected government could be ignored” by Fare Fixation Committee (FFC), which decided the hike.
Set up by the Central Government last year to see the case for and recommend a price hike, the three member FFC, comprising a nominee each from the Central and the Delhi governments and a retired judge of Delhi High Court, had approved a two-phase hike in May. While one hike has already been done, the other was to be implemented from Oc1tober 10.
According to the statement, Kejriwal said that the DMRC’s rationale for the hike – to cover operational costs and repay loans – was “highly flawed” and advised it to be efficient instead.
He also urged the DMRC to follow the Hong Kong model and not burden the common man with repeated hikes.
Decried by both the Aam Aadmi Party and Bhartiya Janata Party for the hike, the DMRC has since cited its mounting losses and unpaid debt as the reasons.
It noted that there has been no fare increase since 2009 though its input costs had dramatically zoomed in energy, staffing and repair and maintenance. It also noted that Rs 26,760 crore of the loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency was still outstanding.
–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.