National
Infrastructure tag to affordable housing to boost sector: Puri
New Delhi, Feb 5 (IANS) Union Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday said the government accorded infrastructure status to affordable housing to ensure lower borrowing rates, tax concessions and increased flow of foreign and private capital.
Speaking at an institutional investor event here, Puri said the government also made announcements, such as profit-linked income tax deduction, relaxations on tax for vacant/ unsold units for one year, counting of the carpet area instead of the built-up area of 30 and 60 sq.m, for the affordable housing segment.
“These will be effective in spurring the housing and construction activities, providing huge relief to real estate developers. Also, these would attract private and foreign investments in the housing sector, having a positive multiplier effect on GDP and labour market,” said Puri.
Noting that availability of encumbrance-free land within the existing municipal areas for urban housing schemes was not an easy task, Puri said provision had been made to include rural areas falling within the notified planning/ development areas, under the ambit of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)-Urban. It would leverage availability of additional land at cheaper cost for construction of affordable houses.
Responding to the demand-supply gap in the affordable housing segment, the government of India had launched the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)-Urban in 2015.
According to Puri, the larger goal is to fulfil the housing needs of the homeless urban poor and enable them to own decent concrete houses with basic facilities by 2022.
“Based on demand assessment at the state level, the nation has the mammoth task of constructing about 12 million houses under Economic Weaker Section/ Lower Income Group segment of the society in order to achieve the goal of Housing for all,” he said.
–IANS
rup/nir/bg
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.