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Empower panchayats to realise Gandhiji’s dreams: Maharashtra Governor
Mumbai, Oct 2 (IANS) Maharashtra Governor C.V. Rao on Tuesday called for devolving more powers to the gram sabhas across the country in the spirit of the 73rd constitutional amendment and thus help achieve Mahatma Gandhi’s dreams.
Addressing a seminar on ‘Gandhian Thoughts’ to mark the beginning of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, the Governor said that “empowering and developing villages alone will stop the exodus of people from rural to urban areas.”
Reminding that only a year is left for the 150 birth anniversary celebrations, he appealed to the government, public and private sectors, and academic institutions to give a fresh push to Swachch Bharat Abhiyan in the state to meet the goal of clean and neat India by 2019.
Calling for respecting dignity of labour, Bombay High Court Justice C. Dharmadhikari (retd) said it that is ironical that people who create trash are respected by society while those who toil hard to clean it are looked down upon. He said that the ‘charkha’ used by Gandhiji to spin khadi symbolised dignity of labour.
He appealed to the people to use two sets of khadi clothes each year as it could provide employment to one crore artisans.
Mani Bhavan President Usha Thakkar said that Gandhiji dared to think and act differently and that his philosophy of non-violence was an instrument to achieve social justice, empowerment of the oppressed sections. He also combined “ethics with politics,” she said.
Earlier, Rao offered floral tributes at the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and attended a devotional songs programme ‘Bhavanjali’ on the occasion.
Among major events to mark Gandhiji’s birth anniversary, IIT-Bombay trained 5,700 students from 120 schools to assemble solar study lamps, which will ultimately reach a figure of 125,000 students, said organizer Chetan S. Solanki.
Scientist and ex-Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Anil Kakodkar said the initiative demonstrates mass empowerment through open source technology in multiple ways.
Western Railway organized a unique thematic painting exhibitions at 12 select stations associated with Gandhiji’s life journey — Mumbai Central, Bhavnagar, Porbander, Limbdi, Wadhwan, Gondal, Vadodara, Nadiad, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Palanpur and Viramgam on its network, said Chief spokesperson Ravinder Bhakar.
Gandhiji’s birthplace, Porbander, got a special makeover, a cleanliness drive, installation of a marble statue, thematic paintings, posters and murals, apart from two life-size portraits of Gandhiji and Kasturba Gandhi at the main entrance, he added.
NGO Voice Against Tobacco organized a special drive on the hazards of tobacco with posters and banner in Mumbai and Thane and urged people to adopt Gandhiji’s concept of cleanliness, said its Chairman Umesh Thanawala.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.