National
Central team to visit Odisha to assess crop loss
Bhubaneswar, Nov 9 (IANS) The union government on Thursday constituted a high-level team under Minister of State for Agriculture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to assess the crop loss due to pest attack in Odisha.
The team will visit the worst affected Bargarh district and other parts of the state on November 12.
The move came after Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan met Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh in New Delhi and discussed the crop damage situation in Odisha.
The Agriculture Minister blamed the state government for not implementing the advisory sent by the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI).
“An advisory was issued by the CRRI to the state government in the first week of October on how to use pesticides. However, the state government did not implement it, leading to the present crisis,” said Singh.
Pradhan also attacked the state government for not taking any step to address the plight of farmers.
“It’s a matter of concern that the apathy of Odisha Govt made things worse for farmers. Despite several advisories issued to the state by central government institutions, the Odisha government chose not to act. GoI on its part is committed to extend all possible support to mitigate farmers’ losses,” tweeted Pradhan.
According to the state government, about 1.78 lakh hectares of paddy farms in nine districts in western Odisha has been damaged in the massive pest attack.
In the last 10 days, nine farmers have allegedly committed suicide over crop loss due to the pest attack.
Earlier in the day, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced that a six-member team led by Lok Sabha member Om Prakash Yadav would visit Odisha for four days starting from November 10. The team will start its journey from Bargarh, will meet the farmers and assess the present situation.
Following the direction of BJP President Amit Shah, the team will review the crop loss in districts like Nuapara, Balangir, Sonepur, Boudh, Ganjam and Nayagarh by visiting the affected farmlands, said BJP Kisan Morcha’s state secretary Surath Biswal.
–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.