National
TN bus strike continues, strikers’ families protest
Chennai, Jan 9 (IANS) Family members of striking employees of state-run buses in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday staged demonstrations across the state as the crippling work stoppage entered the sixth day.
The authorities refused to accept the demands of the striking employees, who are seeking higher wages, and kept recruiting temporary bus drivers in a desperate attempt to restore bus services in the sprawling state.
Union leaders admit the strike had caused inconvenience to the people ahead of Pongal festival but claimed that the working and middle classes support their cause.
The wife of a driver protesting along with her husband and other staff complained that the demands were just.
“We are asking for the money that belongs to us,” she said. “My husband has been serving without a break. And when they ask for their dues, this is the treatment they get,” she told a private television channel.
The government claims that half the fleet is back on the roads, but commuters complained that this not appear to be so.
Transport Minister M.R. Vijayabhaskar announced special buses for Pongal but commuters said this looked like a promise only on paper.
The striking workers again turned down a plea of the Minister to resume work.
The strike resonated in the Tamil Nadu Assembly where DMK leader M.K. Stalin urged the Chief Minister to talk to the striking workers.
Rebel AIADMK leader T.T.V. Dinakaran, speaking for the first time in the House after his election victory last month, also urged the government to resolve the problems of the strikers.
Dinakaran said the strike had caused great hardships to people all over Tamil Nadu, where state-run buses play a major role in transporting hundreds of thousands daily.
–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.