World
Myanmar parliament approves government formation plan
Nay Pyi Taw: The Myanmar parliament on Monday approved President-elect U Htin Kyaw’s plan of forming a new government with reduced ministries.
The proposal submitted on March 17 was approved by a vote of 611-3 with 21 abstentions, Xinhua news agency reported.
U Htin Kyaw made his first public appearance earlier in the day by delivering a speech in the Union Parliament, clarifying his plan to form a government with 21 ministries and 18 ministers, slashed from 36 and 32 respectively in the outgoing government.
He said his cabinet aims to prioritise quality over quantity, build a corruption-free government, focus on national interest, save public money and form an efficient and consolidated government.
Cutting some ministries could save state budget of over 5 billion kyats (about $5 million) which can be used as fund for education, healthcare and rural development, he said.
He told government employees not to worry about their jobs, and that they will continue to be taken care of under public servants law.
According to the plan, some ministries will be combined into one, such as the merging of seven ministries at the president’s office into one.
The ministry of ethnic affairs was created and added to the new government set-up, indicating that the new government attaches importance to ethnic affairs which are to be separately dealt with to boost national reconciliation.
Of the 21 ministries, ministers for three ministries — defence, home affairs and border affairs — are to be named by the military under the constitution.
Meanwhile, U Htin Kyaw will submit a list of nominations of his cabinet members to the Union Parliament on Tuesday for approval, according to the agenda announced on Monday.
U Htin Kyaw of the NLD, led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, won the presidential race last week.
The new government is initially set to be sworn in on March 30 and will assume office from April 1.
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.