National
Adani Ports to give Rs 5 lakh each to kin of Ockhi dead
Thiruvananthapuram, April 3 (IANS) Adani Ports, which is building the upcoming Rs 7,525 crore Vizhinjam Ports near here, Tuesday pledged Rs 5 lakh each to the family of the dead on account of cyclone Ockhi that struck here on November 30 last year.
The assurance was given by Adani Ports CEO Karan Adani in a meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan here.
According to the Kerala government, 52 people were killed and 91 remain missing and a huge majority of Athese came from the two coastal villages located near the upcoming port site.
The main purpose of the visit of Adani was to meet Vijayan and request that they be given an extension of time for completing the port project as they have suffered huge damages on account of Ockhi.
Vijayan is understood to have told Adani that it might not be possible to give any extension at the moment and advised that they bring additional equipment to make up for the lost time.
Two heavy dredgers got damaged when the cyclone struck, besides due to various environmental issues, lime stones from granite quarries here is not being freely available, which is the main raw material for the construction’s first phase.
As per the contract which was inked under the Oommen Chandy government on August 17, 2015, the port was to be opened on December 5, 2019, but last month Adani Ports informed the state government that due to the disaster, they need an extension of 18 months.
Rakesh Jha, a top official of Adani Ports who accompanied Adani to meet Vijayan, later told the media that definitely they are going ahead with the project but it might not be possible to finish as per the original schedule.
As per the agreement, Adani Ports will have to pay a compensation of Rs 12 lakh for every day, if they do not complete on the agreed date of completion, but another clause in the agreement says that if by any chance there is a delay due to natural disaster or shortage of raw materials, the penalty clause cannot be invoked.
–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.