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Manmohan cautions against argument that development requires restrictions on freedom

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New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said that one must not fall prey to the argument that India’s development requires a restriction on the freedoms of its people and a concept of nationhood which demands a contrived unity rather than embrace the reality of India’s diversity.

“The framers of India’s Constitution were wise men and women in articulating a concept of citizenship which transcended, but did not seek suppression of, India’s diversity,” Singh said after he was conferred with the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development.

“The more narrowly we seek to define our identity the less capacity we will have in dealing with a globalizing world outside our borders,” he said.

“The exponential growth of social media has undermined state authority but in the hands of a predatory state it can also become an instrument to undermine the fundamental freedoms that citizens aspire to,” he warned.

Singh rued that at the end of the Cold War, representative democracy and free markets seemed to emerge as the unassailable hallmarks of the new age, but within a generation, democracies were being “seduced by new authoritarianisms” while the votaries of free markets have become “its worst offenders”.

Globalization has created unprecedented opportunities for developing countries. India’s own recent history is an example. But globalization may generate uneven levels of prosperity. To deal with inequality, the answer is not to try and reverse globalization but to use public policy to spread its benefits more evenly, he said.

“The failure to deal with inequality is a failure of public policy, not the inherent consequence of globalization,” Singh, a noted economist and a former RBI Governor, argued.

He said that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) needed to be a “more powerful multilateral institution and the upholder of a rule-based order”.

He said it was becoming increasingly evident that regional trading arrangements were not delivering the benefits they were expected to.

If Asia is to sustain its remarkable trajectory of growth and dynamism, “acknowledging and learning to manage its emerging multipolarity will be the key”.

“If not, peace will inevitably be the casualty and so would development,” he said.

–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

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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.

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