National
Vijayan government failed to get Centre’s clearance for Vigilance chief: RTI
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 10 (IANS) In an apparent lapse by the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left government, an RTI query has revealed that the posting of Loknath Behra as state Vigilance chief had no clearance from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Personnel department.
Behra was made Vigilance head in March last year and he is also Kerala police chief.
As per rules, if any officer is posted as state Vigilance chief, even on a temporary basis, permission has to be taken of the Union Home and Personnel Ministries. Apparently, in Behra’s case, this has not been followed.
Former State Home Minister and senior Congress legislator Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan termed it “a huge lapse” on the part of the Vijayan government not to have informed the Centre about Behra’s appointment.
Behra, known as the the ‘blue eyed boy’ of the Vijayan government, was posted as state Police chief the day Vijayan assumed office in May 2016, after the then chief T.P. Senkumar was moved out.
However, Senkumar after an 11-month legal battle got his post back through a Supreme Court directive.
Behra returned as state police chief after Senkumar retired after serving 55 days as state police chief in May last year, and since then he has been holding both the posts.
According to RTI activist D.B. Binu, not seeking approval of the Union Home and Personnel ministries is “a clear violation of all rules and procedures”. He said “the rules are very clear that the state government has to inform the Centre and get clearance for appointment to the posts of Vigilance chief, and in this case it has not happened.”
“Now all the Vigilance cases that Behra has probed should be reopened,” said Binu.
–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.