FDA registers 150 women self-help groups

NASHIK: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has started registration of women self-help groups (SHGs) involved in preparing midday meals for schoolchildren. As part of the initiative, the FDA registered 150 such groups last week.

The FDA had organized a special camp to register self-help groups, who are providing meals or 'khichadi' to schools as well as anganwadis in Niphad tehsil. During the drive, the FDA generated revenue amounting to Rs 75,000 through registration.

As per the new Food Safety and Standard Act which came into effect from August 5, 2011, it is mandatory for businesses with an annual turnover of over Rs 12 lakh to have licences. A business with an annual turnover of less than Rs 12 lakh is required to get registered by paying only Rs 500 and annual renewal charge of Rs 100, while the licence fee is Rs 2,000.

Food businesses like pan kiosks, fruit/vegetable vendors, traders selling food items on handcarts, grocery shops, bakeries, professionals engaged in food packaging, caterers, inns, dhabas, tea stalls, onion/potato traders and meat shops have been included under the Act from.

With an aim to register all food-related businesses across Nashik division, the FDA has commenced a fresh drive for registration as well as issuance of licences.

Speaking to TOI, Chandrakant Pawar, joint commissioner (Nashik division), FDA, said, "Our major objective is to register all food-related businesses across the division. We have appointed teams of officials in all five districts in the division to conduct spot registrations. The drive will continue for the next few days. We will take legal action against those who have not registered their businesses."

"We have still not counted the number of businesses registered during the spot registration drive," he added.

The FDA's Nashik division includes five districts - Nashik, Ahmednagar, Dhule, Nandurbar and Jalgaon. Till date, around 35,561 businesses have been registered in the division, including 8,346 in Nashik district, 5,193 in Dhule district (including Nandurbar district), 7,425 in Jalgaon and 14,597 in Ahmednagar. Licences have been issued to 16,137 businesses, including 7,331 in Nashik, 2,866 in Dhule, 2,409 in Jalgaon and 3,531 in Ahmednagar districts.