National
Mizoram key to Act East Policy: President
Aizawl, Nov 29 (IANS) President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday said Mizoram was a key to India’s ‘Act East’ Policy and the state will link other northeastern states to our neighbours in Southeast Asia and the rest of India.
“Mizoram is a key to India’s Act East Policy. The state will link our northeastern states to our neighbours in Southeast Asia as well as to other parts of India. That is why the government of India is focusing on infrastructure and connectivity projects in the region,” he said after inaugurating a housing complex here for the economically weaker sections under the Basic Services for Urban Poor Schemes.
India’s Act East Policy focuses on the extended neighbourhood in the Asia-Pacific region. The policy, originally conceived as an economic initiative, has gained political, strategic and cultural dimensions, including establishment of institutional mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation.
He said: “Trade will grow in the bordering state to everybody’s benefit. There is an urgent need to create more opportunities within Mizoram itself like the rest of northeast India.”
The President said that Mizoram has so much to offer. “Harnessed appropriately, bamboo can be a wonder crop. With value addition, it can be used to create a variety of products and many, many jobs.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Kovind arrived here on his maiden two-day visit to Mizoram. He inspected a guard of honour after his arrival at Lengpui Airport.
On Thursday, the President will address a special session of the Mizoram assembly.
The President said the Mizoram government has undertaken two programmes that have led to appreciable outcomes — the New Land Use Policy (NLUP) and the New Economic Development Policy.
“Under the NLUP, the state government is providing financial support to less-advantaged sections that seek to move away from age-old shifting or ‘jhoom’ cultivation and get into sustainable agriculture, horticulture, sericulture, animal husbandry or other livelihoods,” he said.
Kovind said: “Young Mizos are our sporting heroes. From hockey to mountaineering, boxing to weightlifting, Mizos excel nationally and internationally. Of course, in football, our Mizo boys and girls are special.”
He recalled that Mizoram got its first all-weather artificial turf football ground in 2011 and the state team won the Santosh Trophy in 2013. In 2015, it won the gold medal in football at the National Games.
He said the Aizawl Football Club became the first club in northeast India to win the I-League in April. “These are great achievements. Mizoram’s young people can replicate the energy of football in the economy and in entrepreneurship.”
–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.