Jul 24, 2013

DINAKARAN NEWS










HC sets 10-day deadline for guidelines on regulating junk food

HC sets 10-day deadline 
Centre was today given a 10-day deadline by the Delhi High Court to come out with detailed guidelines for regulating sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around school premises in the country.
"No further extension will be given," a bench headed by Acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed firmly told the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Terming the non-filing of draft guidelines by the Centre as "unfortunate", the court asked the FSSAI to submit it within 10 days.
Earlier, Additional Solicitor General Rajeeve Mehra had assured the court that the draft guidelines would be filed by July this year. "Earlier, this court had recorded that draft guidelines would be filed on July 24. Unfortunately, the draft guidelines are not ready. Now, the counsel for the Centre states that the draft guidelines would be ready within 10 days. Let it be filed within 10 days," the bench, also comprising Justice Vibhu Bakhru, said during the hearing and fixed the case for September 4.
"It is expected that parties shall adhere to this time line and no extension would be given by this court," it said, adding that the Centre would share the report with other stakeholders who will also give their suggestions or comments on the issue.
Earlier, the Centre had said that private firm AC Nielsen QRG-MARG Pvt Ltd was in the process of framing norms to regulate availability of junk foods and carbonated drinks within 500 yards of schools. It had also said that after the draft guidelines were prepared, the food processing companies would be consulted for their opinions and then the final guidelines will be made.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by Rakesh Prabhakar, a lawyer for NGO 'Uday Foundation', seeking a direction banning sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around schools.
The Delhi government had also told the court that the Lt Governor has the power to issue directions to city schools on the issue but the same can be done only after the Centre frames guidelines on it.
In January last year, the court had given six-month time to the FSSAI for framing guidelines on banning sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around educational institutions.
The court had also asked the FSSAI to consult the All India Food Processors' Association (AIFPA) and restaurant associations for framing the guidelines. AIFPA, in its application, had said that it deals with processing of fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, milk and milk products and also the manufacturers of biscuits and confectionery products.
It also said that it may give some advice to the FSSAI.

HC sets 10-day deadline for guidelines on regulating junk food

Centre was today given a 10-day deadline by the Delhi High Court to come out with detailed guidelines for regulating sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around school premises in the country.
"No further extension will be given," a bench headed by Acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed firmly told the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Terming the non-filing of draft guidelines by the Centre as "unfortunate", the court asked the FSSAI to submit it within 10 days.
Earlier, Additional Solicitor General Rajeeve Mehra had assured the court that the draft guidelines would be filed by July this year.
"Earlier, this court had recorded that draft guidelines would be filed on July 24. Unfortunately, the draft guidelines are not ready. Now, the counsel for the Centre states that the draft guidelines would be ready within 10 days. Let it be filed within 10 days," the bench, also comprising Justice Vibhu Bakhru, said during the hearing and fixed the case for September 4.
"It is expected that parties shall adhere to this time line and no extension would be given by this court," it said, adding that the Centre would share the report with other stakeholders who will also give their suggestions or comments on the issue.
Earlier, the Centre had said that private firm AC Nielsen QRG-MARG Pvt Ltd was in the process of framing norms to regulate availability of junk foods and carbonated drinks within 500 yards of schools.
It had also said that after the draft guidelines were prepared, the food processing companies would be consulted for their opinions and then the final guidelines will be made.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by Rakesh Prabhakar, a lawyer for NGO 'Uday Foundation', seeking a direction banning sale of junk food and aerated drinks in and around schools.

Selling gutkha could land you in jail

Selling banned gutka, paan masala, flavoured tobacco and supari will be made a punishable offence under sections 324 and 328 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), leading to even a 10-year jail term for manufacturers and vendors, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said.
So far, the offenders were only booked for violating the Food Safety and Standards Act. According to FDA officers, application of the IPC will ensure that those flouting laws are not let off easily.
“Till last year, the offenders were booked only for violation of the Food Safety and Standards Act. This year, we will also book them under the relevant sections of the IPC, which could attract imprisonment,” said Suresh Deshmukh, joint commissioner, FDA.
“We want to send out a message that selling of any of the banned products could land the offenders in jail for even up to 10 years too,” Deshmukh said.
Last year, the FDA had seized gutkha worth Rs4 crore from the state and filed 40 FIRs at various police stations.
“Most of the complaints were against unidentified people as no one claimed the confiscated products,” he said.
The new directive also bans the sale of scented tobacco and supari products.
“Under the new directive, the state has banned scented supari and tobacco products. We recently seized around 72kg of scented supari from STC India Pvt limited at Dahisar,” said Deshmukh.
On Tuesday, the FDA officials met members of the Pan Bidi Association, and asked them to stop selling the banned products in view of the new directive.

FDA cracks whip after ban, seizes scented supari

After a statewide ban on flavoured tobacco and betel nut, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorities swooped down on store houses. This was the first crackdown since the ban was imposed on June 20.
“We have seized products worth up to Rs1,75,000 and weighing up to 72 kgs from store houses in Dahisar East. They were being sold under the brand name Chandan Mukhwaas manufactured by STC India Pvt Ltd,” said Suresh Deshmukh, joint commissioner (food), FDA on Tuesday.
Food safety officers will book those found manufacturing or selling the banned products under sections 324 and 328 of the Indian Penal Code.
“Until last year, we booked offenders for violating Food Safety and Standards Act, but now we will also book them under the relevant section of IPC,” said Suresh Deshmukh, joint commissioner, FDA. “We want to send a strong message that selling these banned products will land the offenders in prison for up to 10 years.”
On Tuesday, FDA officials interacted with the members of Pan Bidi Association asking them to stop selling the banned products. The officials said the FDA is going to file a caveat in the Bombay high court. “In the case manufacturers of scented or flavoured tobacco and betel nut move the HC against the imposed ban, the state’s plea will be heard before passing any order,” said Deshmukh.

Six mid-day meal samples collected Health Department team visits government schools; food samples sent to laboratory in Chandigarh

Bathinda, July 23
A team of the Health Department collected six samples of mid-day meals served in government schools. Headed by the District Health Officer Dr RS Randhawa and the food inspector Amrit Pal, the team collected two food samples each from a government primary school and government high school in Sanjay Nagar and from a government school in Naruana.
The team also visited government schools at village Kot Bakhtu and Kotshamir. But by the time the team arrived, the students already had been served mid-day meals.
Samples of wheat, rice and cooked vegetable (bottle gourd) were collected. The samples have been sent for testing to the government food testing laboratory in Chandigarh and the result is expected after 15 days.
Meanwhile, during the monthly meeting of senior medical officials of the districts convened today, the SMOs were asked to regularly visit schools serving mid-day meals and check hygiene in their kitchen to ensure that the children get clean and safe food.
Civil Surgeon Dr Ajay Sahni also directed the SMOs to seal the source of water wherein water samples have failed thrice in a row. "If the water is from the public health department, the officials concerned should be requested to chlorinate the source," h e added.
The SMOs were also asked to equip themselves with anti-venom medicines in case of a snake bite, which is common during the monsoon. Deputy Medical Commissioner Dr Vinod Garg discussed the Rashtriya Swastha Bima Yojana (RSBY) and the low response that it has evoked. He pointed out that not even a single OPD case or indoor patient's case has been examined under the scheme at the Women and Children Hospital, Bathinda, and the government hospitals at Bhagta, Nathana, Sangat and Maur. Various strategies, including inclusion of ASHA workers and ANMs in popularising the scheme at the grassroot level, were discussed. Dr Sahni said not even a single penny has to be charged from patients belonging to the BPL category under the RSBY as it is a cashless facility.
The issue of extending the working days of radiographers at the sub-division hospital in Ghudda was also discussed. At the Civil Hospital, the need for two more trained lab technicians in the dialysis unit was raised. The SMOs were asked to send slides for pap smear test as per the targets accorded to them. It is compulsory for women above 45 years of age to undergo pap smear test every six months.
Under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Sangat and Bhagta hospitals have not been able to attain the desired 100 per cent results, which was also discussed at the meeting. SMOs of Talwandi Sabo, Rampura and Ghudda were directed to maintain dengue wards and give medication as per the New Drug Policy Malaria 2010 in cases of malaria.
District Family and Health Welfare Officer Dr Ravanjit Kaur spoke about the targets and implementation of Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY). She pointed out that the scheme was running weak at the Talwandi Sabo hospital. The issue of hospitals not getting funds on time to pay the patients was also discussed.
Dr Rakesh Goel, Dr Ashok Monga and all the SMOs were present at the meeting. 
Fact file
  • The team headed by District Health Officer Dr RS Randhawa and food inspector Amrit Pal collected two food samples each from a government primary school and government high school in Sanjay Nagar and from a government school in Naruana.
  • The team also visited government schools at village Kot Bakhtu and Kotshamir. But by the time the team arrived, the students already had been served mid-day meals.
  • Samples of wheat, rice and cooked vegetable (bottle gourd) were collected. The samples have been sent for testing to the government food testing laboratory in Chandigarh and the result is expected after 15 days.
  • During the monthly meeting of senior medical officials of the districts convened on Tuesday, the SMOs were asked to regularly visit schools serving mid-day meals and check hygiene in their kitchen to ensure that the children get clean and safe food.
  • Civil Surgeon Dr Ajay Sahni also directed the SMOs to seal the source of water where water samples have failed the test thrice in a row. "If the water is from the public health department, the officials concerned should be requested to chlorinate the source," he added.

Store fined for selling sub-standard mustard oil

Bathinda, July 23
The court of the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Rajiv Prashar, the adjudicating officer in the Food Safety and Standards Act of India (FSSAI), slapped a fine of Rs 35,000 on Darbara Karyana Store in Pucca Kalan village for selling sub-standard mustard oil.
Earlier on July 16, the same court had imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on Ganpati Mill in Bhucho Mandi for selling sub-standard products. The decision has buoyed health department official who feel that this would give an impetus to the drive of collecting food samples and sending them for testing to the food lab at Chandigarh.
The sample of mustard oil was taken around 6 to 7 months ago. Lab tests have found that the oil was sub-standard. Now, eight more similar cases are pending in the court of the additional deputy commissioner, on which a decision is likely to be passed soon.
The clampdown assumes significance in the wake of the alert generated over the use of sub-standard ingredients in the cooking of mid-day meals.

DINAKARAN NEWS





ஒதுக்கப்பட்டதோ 80 கிà®°ாà®®்; தேவையோ 500 கிà®°ாà®®் உணவு ஆய்வில் சிக்கல்


DINAMALAR NEWS




TNFS DEPT. - TIRUNELVELI DIST. NEWS






Banned tobacco products seized

Banned chewing tobacco products, worth about Rs.9 lakh, were seized from a godown in Tirunelveli Town on Tuesday during a surprise check conducted by the officials of the Department of Food Safety.
Based on a tip-off, the officials raided a godown in Tirunelveli Town, reportedly belonging to one Suresh Kumar, and seized the banned tobacco products.
“The raids to seize the banned tobacco products will continue,” said the officials

Tobacco products seized

Tobacco products worth Rs.1 lakh were seized by the Town Police and handed over to the Food Safety Wing officials here on Tuesday. According to sources, S.K.Muthukumar (41) of Muneeswaran Colony, Naranapuram, runs a shop on Bypass Road near Naranapuram Corner. Following specific information received by Deputy Superintendent of Police V.Radhakrishnan, a police team comprising Balamurali Krishna, Pothi, Gnanasekaran and Muthumariappan raided the shop, seized tobacco products and handed them over to Food Safety Wing officials.

Collector inspects noon meal centres

Collector V.Rajaraman made surprise visits to noon meal centres in various schools in Kalayarkoil panchayat and issued strict guidelines to the heads of schools and noon meal organisers to ensure that quality food was cooked in hygienic condition.
The Collector who made the surprise visit on Tuesday, in the wake of Bihar tragedy, checked the quality of rice, eggs, provisions, oil, vegetables and other ingredients used for making noon meal.
The Collector instructed the noon meal organisers and headmasters to ensure that the food items were stored in a safe and hygienic place.

Arsenic in rice can damage Bengali DNA, finds study

London: The DNA of an average Bengali living in West Bengal could be facing serious damage due to high levels of arsenic being consumed through the rice they eat, says a study.
    A joint Indo-British study announced by the University of Manchester has proved a link
between rice with high levels of arsenic and chromosomal damage, as measured by micronuclei in urothelial cells.
    Increased frequency of these micronuclei has been shown by researchers to be linked to the development of cancers.
    The researchers from the University of Manchester and CSIRIndian Institute of Chemical Biology in Kolkata looked at the frequency of micronuclei – the tell-tale sign of chromosomal damage among 40,000 people by screening individual cells extracted from their urine samples.
    They discovered that people in rural West Bengal eating rice as a staple with greater than 0.2 mg/kg arsenic showed higher frequencies of micronuclei than those consuming rice with less than this concentration of arsenic.

    They demonstrated that the trend of greater genetic damage with increasing arsenic in rice was observed for both men and women, for tobacco-users and non-users, and for those from three different locations within the study area.
    Rice is the staple food of over three billion people. Because the rice plant is highly efficient at absorbing arsenic from soil and water, it is reported to be the highest arsenic-containing cereal. For Indians, rice is their staple food.
    A good portion of the Ganga-Meghna-Brahmaputra
plain, spread across 600,000 sq km with a population of over
500 million, is at risk from groundwater arsenic contamination.
    Over 100 million people living in UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bangladesh, Assam, Arunachal, Manipur and Tripura drink arsenic water regularly that causes cardiovascular and neurological disorders.

    Professor David Polya from University of Manchester said, “This is the first time a link between consumption of arsenicbearing rice and genetic damage has been demonstrated. As such, it vindicates increasing concerns expressed by the European Food Safety Authority and others about the adequacy of regulation of arsenic in rice.”
    The team, funded by the UK India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI), chose a study population with relatively similar dietary and socio-economic status that was not otherwise exposed to arsenic, for example, through drinking water.

STAPLE THREAT
    
A joint Indo-British study has proved a link between rice with high levels of arsenic and chromosomal damage
    Increased frequency of micronuclei — the tell-tale sign of chromosomal damage — has been shown to be linked to the development of cancers
    People in rural West Bengal eating rice as a staple with greater than 0.2 mg/kg arsenic showed higher frequencies of micronuclei
    The trend of greater genetic damage was observed for both men and women and for tobacco-users and non-users

புதுவை கடைகளில் à®°ூ.20 லட்சம் மதிப்புள்ள புகையிலை பொà®°ுட்கள் பறிà®®ுதல்




புதுச்சேà®°ி, ஜூலை.24-புதுவை அண்ணாசாலை, à®°à®™்கபிள்ளை வீதியில் உள்ள கடைகளில் வருவாய் துà®±ை அதிகாà®°ிகள் நடத்திய அதிரடி சோதனையில் à®°ூ.20 லட்சம் மதிப்புள்ள புகையிலை பொà®°ுட்களை பறிà®®ுதல் செய்யப்பட்டன.அதிரடி சோதனைபுதுச்சேà®°ி பொதுமக்கள் நலன் கருதி பான்பராக், பான் மசாலா, குட்கா உள்ளிட்ட புகையிலை பொà®°ுட்களை விà®±்க தடைவிதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்த நிலையில் புதுவையில் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பொà®°ுட்கள் அதிக விலைக்கு விà®±்பனை செய்யப்படுவதாக வருவாய் துà®±ை அதிகாà®°ிகளுக்கு தகவல் கிடைத்தது.இதனை அடுத்து தாசில்தாà®°் à®°à®®ேà®·், துணை தாசில்தாà®°் மணிகண்டன், உணவு பாதுகாப்பு துà®±ை அதிகாà®°ி தன்à®°ாஜ் மற்à®±ுà®®் அதிகாà®°ிகள் புதுவை அண்ணாசாலை, à®°à®™்கபிள்ளை வீதிகளில் உள்ள பெட்டிக்கடைகள், மளிகை கடைகள் ஆகியவற்à®±ில் அதிரடி சோதனை நடத்தினாà®°்கள்.à®°ூ.20 லட்சம்...இந்த சோதனையின் போது சில கடைகளில் இருந்து பண்டல், பண்டலாக புகையிலை பொà®°ுட்கள் பதுக்கி வைத்து விà®±்பனை செய்தது கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டது. இதில் சுà®®ாà®°் 250 கிலோ மதிப்புள்ள புகையிலை பொà®°ுட்கள் பறிà®®ுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது. இவற்à®±ின் மதிப்பு à®°ூ. 20 லட்சத்தை தாண்டுà®®் என அதிகாà®°ிகள் தெà®°ிவித்தனர்.அதிகாà®°ிகள் எச்சரிக்கைபுதுவையில் தடை செய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலை பொà®°ுட்கள் விà®±்பனை செய்வது தொடர்பான சோதனை தொடர்ந்து அனைத்து பகுதிகளிலுà®®் நடைபெà®±ுà®®் என அதிகாà®°ிகள் தெà®°ிவித்துள்ளனர். à®®ேலுà®®் அவர்கள் கூà®±ுà®®்போது, “புதுவையில் à®®ுதல் தடவையாக நடத்தப்பட்ட இந்த சோதனையில் புகையிலை பொà®°ுட்களை மட்டுà®®் பறிà®®ுதல் செய்து சம்பந்தப்பட்ட நபர்களை எச்சரித்துள்ளோà®®். அடுத்த à®®ுà®±ை சோதனை நடத்தப்படுà®®் போது புகையிலை பொà®°ுட்களை பறிà®®ுதல் செய்வதுடன், அவற்à®±ை விà®±்பனை செய்பவர்களுக்கு அபராதமுà®®் விதிக்கப்படுà®®்“ என்à®±ு தெà®°ிவித்துள்ளனர்.

புதுச்சேà®°ியில் அதிரடி à®°ெய்டு: à®°ூ. 20 லட்சம் மதிப்பு போதை வஸ்துக்கள் பறிà®®ுதல்
புதுச்சேà®°ி: புதுச்சேà®°ியில் நேà®±்à®±ு நடந்த அதிரடி à®°ெய்டில், 20 லட்சம் à®°ூபாய் மதிப்புள்ள குட்கா, பான்பராக் உள்ளிட்ட போதை வஸ்துகள் சிக்கியது.
புதுச்சேà®°ியில் குட்கா, பான்பாà®°ாக் உள்ளிட்ட புகையிலை பொà®°ுட்களுக்கு தடை விதிக்கப்பட்டது. சுப்à®°ீà®®் கோà®°்ட்டுà®®், குட்கா, பான்பராக் விà®±்பனைக்கு தடை விதித்து உத்தரவிட்டது. இருந்துà®®், புதுச்சேà®°ி பகுதிகளில் போதை வஸ்துக்கள் விà®±்பனை கட்டுப்படுத்தப்படவில்லை. இது தொடர்பான புகாà®°ின்பேà®°ில், சுகாதாரத் துà®±ை செயலர் à®°ாகேà®·் சந்திà®°ா உத்தரவின்பேà®°ில், உணவு பாதுகாப்பு அதிகாà®°ி தன்à®°ாஜ் தலைà®®ையில் தாசில்தாà®°் à®°à®®ேà®·், வருவாய் ஆய்வாளர்கள் ரவிச்சந்திரன், பாலமுà®°ுகன், கிà®°ாà®® நிà®°்வாக அதிகாà®°ி à®°ாவ், சிவகுà®®ாà®°், கிà®°ுபாகரன், நக்கீரன் தலைà®®ையிலான அதிகாà®°ிகள் நேà®±்à®±ு à®°à®™்கப்பிள்ளை வீதி, பெà®°ிய à®®ாà®°்க்கெட், அண்ணாசாலை ஆகிய இடங்களில் அதிரடி à®°ெய்டு நடத்தினர். குடோன்களில் à®®ூட்டை, à®®ூட்டையாக பதுக்கி வைக்கப்பட்டிà®°ுந்த போதை வஸ்துக்கள் சிக்கியது. நேà®±்à®±ு நடந்த à®°ெய்டில், à®°à®™்கப்பிள்ளை வீதி, அண்ணாசாலை பகுதியில் மட்டுà®®் 20 லட்சம் à®°ூபாய் மதிப்புள்ள பான்பராக், குட்கா உள்ளிட்ட போதை வஸ்துகள் பறிà®®ுதல் செய்யப்பட்டன. இது குà®±ித்து சுகாதாà®° செயலர் à®°ாகேà®·் சந்திà®°ா கூà®±ுà®®்போது""குட்கா, பான்பராக் போன்à®± போதை வஸ்துகளை விà®±்பதுà®®், அதனை வாà®™்கி பயன்படுத்துவதுà®®் சட்டப்படி தவறு. à®®ீà®±ியுà®®் விà®±்à®±ால் ஓராண்டு வரை சிà®±ையில் அடைக்கவுà®®், à®’à®°ு லட்சம் à®°ூபாய் அபாரதம் விதிக்கப்படுà®®். எனவே, தடை செய்யப்பட்ட போதை வஸ்துகளை கடையில் விà®±்கக் கூடாது. à®°ெய்டு சிக்குà®®் கடை உரிà®®ையாளர்கள் கைது செய்யப்படுவாà®°்கள்'' என்à®±ாà®°்.

à®°ூ. 20 லட்சம் மதிப்பு புகையிலைப் பொà®°ுள்கள் பறிà®®ுதல்

புதுச்சேà®°ியில் விà®±்பனை செய்வதற்காக வைக்கப்பட்டிà®°ுந்த தடை செய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலைப் பொà®°ுள்களை தாசில்தாà®°் à®°à®®ேà®·் தலைà®®ையிலான அதிகாà®°ிகள் பறிà®®ுதல் செய்து எரித்து à®…à®´ித்தனர்.
புதுச்சேà®°ியில் பான்பாரக், குத்கா உள்ளிட்ட சில வகைப் புகையிலைப் பொà®°ுள்களை விà®±்பனை செய்வதற்குத் தடை விதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. தடையையுà®®் à®®ீà®±ி à®’à®°ு சில இடங்களில் விà®±்பனை செய்யப்படுவதாகப் புகாà®°் எழுந்தது.
இதையடுத்து, வருவாய்த்துà®±ை தாசில்தாà®°் à®°à®®ேà®·் தலைà®®ையிலான அதிகாà®°ிகள் திடீà®°் சோதனையில் ஈடுபட்டனர். சோதனையில் à®°ூ. 20 லட்சம் மதிப்புள்ள புகையிலைப் பொà®°ுள்கள் கைப்பற்றப்பட்டு à®…à®´ிக்கப்பட்டன. இது தொடர்பாக தாசில்தாà®°் à®°à®®ேà®·் கூà®±ியதாவது:
தடை செய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலைப் பொà®°ுள்கள் விà®±்பனைக்காகப் பதுக்கி வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாக தகவல் கிடைத்தது. இதன் பேà®°ில், à®°à®™்கப்பிள்ளை வீதி, அண்ணாசாலை உள்ளிட்ட பகுதிகளில் உணவுப் பாதுகாப்புத் துà®±ை மற்à®±ுà®®் போலீஸாà®°ுடன் இணைந்து சோதனையில் ஈடுபட்டோà®®்.
இதில், சுà®®ாà®°் 250 கிலோ எடையுள்ள தடை செய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலைப் பொà®°ுள்கள் பறிà®®ுதல் செய்யப்பட்டது. இவற்à®±ின் சந்தை மதிப்பு சுà®®ாà®°் à®°ூ. 20 லட்சம். பறிà®®ுதல் செய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலைப் பொà®°ுள்கள் எரித்து à®…à®´ிக்கப்பட்டு விட்டன. தொடர்ந்து சோதனை நடத்தப்படுà®®்.
தடை செய்யப்பட்ட புகையிலைப் பொà®°ுள்கள் வைத்திà®°ுப்பது கண்டறியப்பட்டால், கடுà®®் நடவடிக்கை எடுப்பதுடன், அபராதமுà®®் விதிக்கப்படுà®®் என்à®±ாà®°்.

Chhapra tragedy: Karnataka govt introduces scores of initiatives for food safety

BANGALORE: The Bihar tragedy where 22 children died after eating lunch apparently contaminated with insecticide last week, has made the Karnataka government to come out with a proposal of starting an independent water source for cooking food under mid-day meals to school children.
Primary and secondary education minister Kimmane Ratnakar told the legislative council on Tuesday that the Chhapra tragedy was a warning bell for the government and it has initiated scores of initiatives in schools following the incident including plans to delink teaching staff from preparing food.
Maintaining that the scheme in the state was near to 100% error free, the minister said over 60 lakh school children are getting the benefits of mid-day meal every day. "Barring one incident, where a girl child died after slipping into sambar vessel last year, the scheme is running successfully since it was introduced in 2002. More than 6 crore children have benefitted by the scheme till date," Ratnakar said.
Mid-day meals is being given in around 55,000 schools and the government was into building quality kitchens in these schools. Only 75% of the schools have kitchens. Ratnakar said the Centre has announced that it would provide Rs 3 lakh to built a kitchen and Rs 5,000 to buy utensils. "There is also scheme where Centre will provide Rs 3,500 per month to grow vegetables in water availability areas. Rs 7,000 grant per month on big schemes and government has planned to give milk from August at a cost of Rs 600 crore," he said.
Of the Rs 18,000 crore allocation for the department, Rs 11,000 are being spent on the salary. Ratnakar informed that Rs 180 crore was being spent on providing free uniforms every year and Rs 3,500 crore needed upgrade school buildings.
The minister said he himself will go the corporate companies seeking financial help from them to construct/upgrade government schools. Ratnakar said the government will identify schools and corporates themselves can fund the projects. "Let corporates give money directly to the contractors, we will restrict ourselves to identifying the schools. We expect at least two schools to be developed in each zilla panchayat limits," he said.
Measures taken after the tragedy:
*Precaution and cleanliness to be maintained in kitchen
*Cleanliness in water being supplied by water tanks
*Quality storage of food grains
*Precaution to be taken in drinking water
*To preserve nutrition in the food