National
Karnataka CM opens mobile canteens in Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jan 26 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday unveiled 24 mobile Indira Canteens that will serve food to the poor at subsidised rates.
The canteens were flagged off by the Chief Minister from state legislature in the heart of the city.
“The Indira Canteens will be parked near public parks and prime locations of 24 civic wards serving breakfast, lunch and dinner,” Bengaluru civic body spokesman L. Suresh told IANS here.
With an eye on the upcoming state polls in April-May, Siddaramaiah, who is also the Finance Minister, had earmarked Rs 100 crore in the state Budget in fiscal 2017-18 to run the canteens in all 198 civic wards.
However, due to land scarcity in the city, the state decided to set up mobile canteens.
The canteens, which would serve vegetarian breakfast at Rs 5 per plate and lunch and dinner at Rs 10, would be run on modified tempo travellers equipped with CCTV cameras and GPS system to track their locations.
These mobile units are fitted with solar panels for power supply, overhead drinking water tank and an underground sump to collect used water.
The canteens, named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, were unveiled on August 16, 2017 by Congress President Rahul Gandhi with an aim to make Karnataka “hunger free”.
The canteens are currently operational in over 150 civic wards, with 12 kitchens catering to them.
With a budget of Rs 185 crore, the government in October 2017 had decided to open 246 Indira Canteens in all the 30 districts of the state and their sub-districts.
The daily operating cost of all canteens in the state was estimated to be Rs 29 lakh, with monthly expenditure of Rs 9 crore.
These canteens are run on the lines of the popular Amma Canteens in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, started by then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.
–IANS
bha/in/mr
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.