National
Odisha CM hits out at centre’s ‘neglect’
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday accused the central government of neglecting his state and reducing its funds.
Addressing Biju Janata Dal (BJD) workers on the birth anniversary of his father and former chief minister Biju Patnaik, the party president said the centre was drastically cutting the share of Odisha in the 14th Finance Commission allocation.
“The centre has to play its role in the development of the state in a federal structure. Unfortunately, even though the centre appreciated the state’s performance in managing fiscal deficit, it has reduced the share of the state in the 14th Finance Commission. Is it not political discrimination?” the chief minister asked.
He said the demands of Odisha were not considered in the union budget, while special packages were granted to Bihar and West Bengal.
The Bharatiya Janata Party was quick to refute Patnaik’s allegations and urged him to focus on development instead.
Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, who is a Lok Sabha member from Odisha, said: “According to the recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission, the devolution of share has been increased to 42 percent from 32 percent. The state would receive more funds as per recommendations.”
Reacting to the special packages, Oram said they were given to revenue-deficit states.
“Why didn’t the chief minister go and tell the commission that his state is revenue deficit? He rather went and highlighted his achievements, thereby making the state ineligible for the special entitlement,” Oram said.
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.