National
BJP hails rail budget, Congress questions resource availability
New Delhi: The ruling BJP hailed Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu’s budget for 2015-16 Thursday calling it “reformist” and “revolutionary” but opposition Congress questioned how the resources for the reforms will be generated while coalition partner Shiv Sena was also not satisfied.
“This is the first time a reformist budget has been brought for railways,” Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters.
“Latest technology will be used in railways to upgrade it and make it safe. The reforms in railway will also generate more employment and boost make in India programme,” he said.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar called it a revolutionary budget.
“This is a revolutionary budget. It is people-centric and incorporates the vision of the prime minister to completely revamp the railways. The railway minister has come up with some technology-oriented services that would not only ensure transparency but is also user-friendly,” Javadekar said.
Congress however questioned how the government will raise the necessary resources.
“The budget is high on promises but does not talk how the resources will be generated,” Congress’ leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said after the budget was presented.
On the same lines, party leader Shashi Tharoor said while the ideas were “fine”, there were no specifics.
“The railway budget has some very fine ideas but no specifics. What is the revenue source for the reforms, there is no credible plan,” he said.
“The gap between rhetoric and results is the biggest concern. There is no specific information on how the promises will be delivered. If there is no hike in fare, where will revenue come from?” he asked.
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) constituent Shiv Sena was also critical.
“We are completely dissatisfied with the budget. They have said so many things in the budget. But from where will the money come?” party MP Gajanan Kirtikar said.
Another NDA constituent Shiromani Akali Dal said the budget was good, but added that there was no announcements for the states.
“The philosophy of the budget reflects the prime minister’s vision. It is a good budget but there are no announcements for the states,”said party MP Prem Singh Chandumajra.
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh meanwhile praised the budget.
“This is a good job. He (Prabhu) has not announced new schemes and promised that he will focus on executing past measures. If he succeeds in doing so, it will be a huge accomplishment,” he told reporters.
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.