The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to give
training onpreparing safe street food to illegal vendors starting later
this week.
According to health officials from the BMC, the decision was taken in a meeting chaired by the chief secretary at Mantralaya on Tuesday. “The BMC along with the Food and Drug Administration will jointly organise the training programme as directed by the state,” said a senior official stating that the state is the implementing authority for the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011.
The official added that they have identified spots for the pilot project which include vendors near railway stations, colleges and tourists spots. The training team include a junior officer, sanitary inspector, medical health officer and deputy executive health officer.
“As of now, we have selected 50 khau gullies and training will start later this week. It will focus on safe foods, good hygiene while cooking, storing and handling,” said Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner who added that it will help in reducing bacterial diseases caused by eating such foods.
When asked about giving training to illegal vendors, Mhaiskar said, “The training does not mean that they will get a licence. The training is only intended for public interest as a sizeable number of the population consume food prepared by these vendors. The training will ensure that the food prepared by them is safe.”
However, activists expressed displeasure over the decision stating that it will encourage illegal vendors. “How can the BMC give training to illegal vendors? It will only encourage them to open more outlets and will lead to an increase in the number of illegal vendors across the city,” said Aftab Siddique, an activist from Bandra.
According to health officials from the BMC, the decision was taken in a meeting chaired by the chief secretary at Mantralaya on Tuesday. “The BMC along with the Food and Drug Administration will jointly organise the training programme as directed by the state,” said a senior official stating that the state is the implementing authority for the Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011.
The official added that they have identified spots for the pilot project which include vendors near railway stations, colleges and tourists spots. The training team include a junior officer, sanitary inspector, medical health officer and deputy executive health officer.
“As of now, we have selected 50 khau gullies and training will start later this week. It will focus on safe foods, good hygiene while cooking, storing and handling,” said Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner who added that it will help in reducing bacterial diseases caused by eating such foods.
When asked about giving training to illegal vendors, Mhaiskar said, “The training does not mean that they will get a licence. The training is only intended for public interest as a sizeable number of the population consume food prepared by these vendors. The training will ensure that the food prepared by them is safe.”
However, activists expressed displeasure over the decision stating that it will encourage illegal vendors. “How can the BMC give training to illegal vendors? It will only encourage them to open more outlets and will lead to an increase in the number of illegal vendors across the city,” said Aftab Siddique, an activist from Bandra.
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