National
Rain deficit unlikely to impact food production: Jaitley
New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Thursday that the forecast of deficit rain during the monsoon this year would not have any significant impact on food production owing to geographical distribution of the rainfall.
He told media persons here that forecast of rainfall appears to be on closer side of normal in south and central India and in the northeast, and there was “slight inadequacy, if at all” in the north-west.
Jaitley, however, noted that a large part of north-western India, including Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, has substantial irrigation facility.
“On account of geographical distribution, the impact on food grain production may not be very significant. There was similar pattern last year. Advance predictions are somewhat better than last year. In any case, there is abundance of food grains available,” he said.
Noting the government prevented “any inflationary trend in food management” last year, Jaitley said: “For anybody to draw conclusion of inflation, some kind of distress situation is far fetched.”
These conclusions were drawn in an “exaggerated manner”, he said.
Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Tuesday that rainfall this monsoon was likely to be deficient with 88 (plus or minus four) percent of the long period average (LPA).
“The latest forecast is bothering me…Let’s pray to god that the forecast does not come true,” he had said.
The rainfall was likely to be 85 percent of LPA over northwest India, 90 percent of LPA over central and northeast India, and 92 percent over the southern peninsula with a model error of plus or minus eight percent.
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.