Onus on wardens to provide good food

MYSURU: Wardens serving in government hostels in the district have been asked to be extra vigilant while preparing food for the inmates. 

Zilla panchayat president Pushpa Amarnath on Monday directed wardens to ensure that food is cooked and served hygienically. 

"The quality of the food is also important and it is the responsibility of the wardens to ensure it," she said, addressing wardens at a meeting called following two incidents of hostel inmates falling ill due to food poisoning. 

Last week, 27 girl students of a residential school in Mysuru taluk took ill after a lizard was found in their food. 

Wardens attached to hostels managed by social welfare department, backward classes department, department of public instruction and other departments and agencies were informed of the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act (2006). 

Pushpa said the recent cases should serve as a warning bell to authorities, especially wardens. "Ensure that such cases do not recur," she told them. Food Safety and Standards Act designated officer Dr Chidambaram said the law requires serving of quality food. Defaulters can be fined between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10 lakh and imprisoned.