Structural inequality among cadre of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is holding back officers from doing their job. Step-motherly attitude of the state government towards the Food Safety Officers (FSO) underplay their importance for a healthy society, discussed FSOs from all across the state here at an annual convention.
“To do away with ‘Inspector Raj’, state has brought in new Food Safety and Standards Act 2006; the Act is progressive, but the government has failed to provide adequate infrastructure and staff,” said Secretary General of FSO Cadre Association of India VK Rathi.
As the Act came into force, the role of Food Inspector has been changed from a regulator to a facilitator.
The FSOs in the state are being paid class-IV employee wages. “Our salary is Rs 16,000 to Rs 17,000, whereas those in other states are being paid Rs 40,000 - Rs 50,000. Our grade pay is Rs 2,100 against Rs 4,200 to FSOs in other states,” said Manish Swami, a senior FSO.
“Promotion opportunities are bleak. FSOs end up in the same post till their retirement. We had sent a list of recommendations to the pay commission and the state government, but none have been accepted,” said Swami.
A five-member committee has been constituted at the annual convention with food commissioners from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Goa and Maharashtra states to discuss uniformed pay structure of the officers across India, irrespective of the state cadre they belong to.
Given the amount of arable land in our country, food security is a big challenge and at the same time providing quality food to people is equally important, said an officer.
No comments:
Post a Comment