Ranchi News: In this steaming heat, the burning
road, the stinking heap of garbage as the dusk turns afternoon, a bare
foot walks all around the streets of Firayalal in search of food. Few
sits besides the garbage disposing lane, wearing a torn out cloth,
holding a small bag and begs every passersby for food and money for
survival. A poor family waits for the elder most who has been out for
site to work and will bring the meal of the day for them. But how safe
is the food they get?
The situation is particularly serious in Jharkhand. The newly formed State is one of the country’s most insecure in terms of food and nutrients. A major part of the population lives below the poverty line and above 70% of the state are engaged in agriculture.
After almost five years of its enactment, the Jharkhand Government finally brought the Food Safety and Standards Act in force. As per the notification issued by the State Health Department, Health Secretary would officiate as the Food Safety Commissioner, whereas Food Controller as the Director In-Chief, Food.
“The new act lays more emphasis on selling of quality food grains/eatables, while the old act, Food Adulteration Control Act 1954, had many loopholes that often allowed the culprits evade severe penal action,” Health Secretary K Vidyasagar said.
However, this more emphasis on quality foods becomes irrelevant when it comes to practical terms. Roadside hawkers, grocery shops, tiffinwallas in the town can be spotted almost everywhere selling and distributed adulterated food.
‘The street hawkers are not provide spaces by Government to sell their stuffs. If they were allotted some legal space or land for the business, it would have been easy to monitor the quality’, said an official.
The authority of issuing license to food shops has been delegated to sub-divisional officer which was earlier with civil surgeons. The officials could now take at least four food samples instead of previously norms of three for better lab testing. The new Act says it tightens the noose around food grain sellers indulging in supplying adulterated eatables; the Act empowers the Food Safety cell officers to file the case against the offending firm. But the scenario remains the same as before. The use of poor quality products and adulterated food has still the sale in the market. The Ranchi officials and the staff uncharged of the Food and Safety departments refuses to give any comments or explanations in this issue.
The big issue remains is the dangers and the consequences of consuming these adulterated food and available in those stalls which can cause stomach ailments, jaundice, and cholera among other diseases.
The situation is particularly serious in Jharkhand. The newly formed State is one of the country’s most insecure in terms of food and nutrients. A major part of the population lives below the poverty line and above 70% of the state are engaged in agriculture.
After almost five years of its enactment, the Jharkhand Government finally brought the Food Safety and Standards Act in force. As per the notification issued by the State Health Department, Health Secretary would officiate as the Food Safety Commissioner, whereas Food Controller as the Director In-Chief, Food.
“The new act lays more emphasis on selling of quality food grains/eatables, while the old act, Food Adulteration Control Act 1954, had many loopholes that often allowed the culprits evade severe penal action,” Health Secretary K Vidyasagar said.
However, this more emphasis on quality foods becomes irrelevant when it comes to practical terms. Roadside hawkers, grocery shops, tiffinwallas in the town can be spotted almost everywhere selling and distributed adulterated food.
‘The street hawkers are not provide spaces by Government to sell their stuffs. If they were allotted some legal space or land for the business, it would have been easy to monitor the quality’, said an official.
The authority of issuing license to food shops has been delegated to sub-divisional officer which was earlier with civil surgeons. The officials could now take at least four food samples instead of previously norms of three for better lab testing. The new Act says it tightens the noose around food grain sellers indulging in supplying adulterated eatables; the Act empowers the Food Safety cell officers to file the case against the offending firm. But the scenario remains the same as before. The use of poor quality products and adulterated food has still the sale in the market. The Ranchi officials and the staff uncharged of the Food and Safety departments refuses to give any comments or explanations in this issue.
The big issue remains is the dangers and the consequences of consuming these adulterated food and available in those stalls which can cause stomach ailments, jaundice, and cholera among other diseases.
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