National
Forests in catchment area can prevent Ganga pollution: Javadekar
New Delhi: Forests and more greenery should be developed in the catchment areas of the Ganga river to rid it of pollution, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Tuesday.
Terming the Narendra Modi government’s commitment to keep the Ganga “alive” and free from pollution, he said forests should be “set up in the catchment area” of the river to maintain the lively relationship between forests and water.
The minister was speaking after releasing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on Forestry Intervention for Ganga here alongwith Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti.
The project report submitted to the government by the Forest Research Institute (FRI) in Dehradun envisages active involvement of two battalions of the Eco Task Force in the states of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh for raising plantations in difficult terrains, official sources said.
Javadekar said trees prevent soil erosion, recharge water and also increase the level of groundwater.
Agreeing with Javadekar, Bharti said large-scale vegetation along the Ganga will also help enrich the aqua life.
She said the plantation programme will start from Uttarakhand.
Javadekar said that from time immemorial, vegetation along the Ganga had medicinal powers to keep the river water clean.
Complimenting the experts of FRI for their contribution in the preparation of the voluminous report, Bharti said her ministry will start implementing the report very soon.
The DPR was prepared by the FRI after extensive consultations with various stakeholders and incorporating science based methodology.
This included use of remote sensing and GIS technologies for spatial analysis.
Extensive plantation in natural, agriculture, and urban landscapes besides conservation interventions such as soil and water conservation, riparian wildlife management and wetland management and mass awareness campaigns have been envisioned in the DPR.
Altogether, 40 different plantation and treatment models have been selected for implementation by Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
The project will be implemented over a period of five years by the state forest departments under Phase-I between 2016 to 2021.
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.