World
Amazon, US varsity sued over Indian-origin student’s death
Washington: Online giant Amazon and the University of Pennsylvania have been sued in the US over the death of an Indian-origin nursing student who killed herself two years ago by consuming cyanide, media reports said.
Arya Singh, 20, died in February 2013 after ingesting cyanide crystals she ordered on Amazon.
The suit said the Indian was struggling to cope with downward spiral in her academic career after the school ignored her claims of a sexual assault,as per reported.
Singh reported an alleged sexual assault by a male student in 2011. But no charges were brought against the student and he remained on campus, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer daily.
It is believed that Singh started to show troubling behaviour after the incident, which included missing classes and getting arrested for alcohol intoxication. She was subject to multiple academic and misconduct investigations at her nursing school.
“Despite Arya’s problems, university employees’ conduct toward her was unsympathetic, hostile, and at times vindictive,” said the suit filed by the student’s family in July in Common Pleas Court, US.
One school official allegedly wrote in an e-mail that she had “no sympathy” for Singh, saying the student “deserves anything you dish out to her”.
According to the suit, the Indian-origin student purchased the cyanide crystals from Amazon, which listed the product under category “kitchen”. The supplier was a vendor from Thailand and the online shopping giant processed and kept a portion of the payment Singh made using a debit card.
The cyanide was delivered in December 2012 to the package room of the Rodin College House, where Singh lived.
Singh took her life on February 8, 2013, the day she was to face an academic misconduct investigation by the school authorities.
Representatives of Amazon and University of Pennsylvania said they do not comment on pending litigation.
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.