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Kerala to launch chit fund for diaspora to finance highways

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Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 12 (IANS) The Kerala government aims to raise Rs 10,000 crore from non-resident Keralites (NRK) by launching a chit fund scheme ‘Pravasi chitti’ to finance two new highways extending to nearly 1,900 km, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan here on Thursday.

The government will also hold a meet in January to address the problems faced by the diaspora given the slowdown in the global economy and to rope in their support for key initiatives of the state government.

The ‘Pravasi chitti’ (as chit funds are called in Kerala) scheme would be managed by the Kerala State Financial Services Enterprises (KSFE), a wholly-owned non-banking company of the state government.

In the scheme, NRKs can make their monthly remittance which will be invested automatically in the NRI bonds of Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) in the name of KSFE.

As these investments have the guarantee of the government and security of the KSFE, there will be no additional risk for the investor, said Vijayan, adding that their target is to get it subscribed at least by one lakh NRKs in the first year.

“We are adopting a two-pronged strategy to empower the returnees through financial support for their ventures here and also to raise funds from the NRKs for developing two highways — 1,267 km-long hill highway and 630 km-long coastal highway by generating Rs 10,000 crore through NRK bonds,” he said.

Vijayan said the state government is also hosting a first-of-its-kind Loka Kerala Sabha — a high-level summit of all MPs, legislators from the state and representatives of over 200 registered Keralite associations spread across the globe — to look at the issues of the diaspora.

The two-day meet, to be held here from January 12, will be organised by NORKA-ROOTS, the nodal agency of the government under its Non-Resident Keralites’ Affairs Department.

“The meet assumes significance in the wake of large scale reverse migration of NRKs following a general slowdown in the global economy and tightening labour laws and rules in the Gulf Corporation Council countries,” said K. Varadarajan, Executive Vice Chairman of NORKA ROOTS.

–IANS
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Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

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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.

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