Karnataka

Bengaluru

FSSAI

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

Indira canteens

canteens

Indira

Manoj Kumar

Indira Canteen

Whitefield

Rajendra

Association

UGC

Civic body got carried away bygovt’s poll frenzyStarting a darshini or a restaurant inis a tedious process. One has to get the shops and establishments licence from the labour department; then, a trade licence from the BBMP; and finally, a licence from, and registration with,). Then there are the regular bribes to corrupt cops and officials.But none of these rules – and licences – apply when you are the government and eager to earn a quick vote, it seems.The 101that were opened last week are operating without a licence from FSSAI. Worse, top officials involved in launching and authorizing thearen’t even aware that a licence is required for the same.“Yes,canteens need to be registered as per the food safety and standard norms,” saidMeena, Food Safety Commissioner, Karnataka, when Bangalore Mirror asked him a pointed query. “It will be done soon,” was all he said when asked why it wasn’t done earlier.BBMP Executive Engineer Nandish JR, however, gave a bizarre logic. That government establishments don’t need a licence from anyone. He’s the nodal officer in charge of all Indira Canteens.“Only private hotels require registration and licence. The government issues them these certificates to ensure that the food they serve to the public is safe. Butis the government’s project so there will be no such problems,” he said.Just to set the record straight, Section 31 (1) of the Food Safety Act says that nobody (it makes no exception for the government) is entitled to commence a food business without a licence from FSSAI.The contract to run the Indira Canteens has been given out to two caterers – Mumbai-based ChefTalk and New Delhi-based NGO Rewards.Govind Pujari, MD of Chef Talk, which has taken contract for 110 canteens, said that currently a base kitchen insupplies food to the functioning canteens.He said that a separate licence for Indira Canteens is definitely required and they have asked BBMP to apply for it.The government set aside Rs 88 crore for 198 Indira Canteens (one in each ward in Bengaluru), which are meant to feed the poor – breakfast costs Rs 5 and lunch and dinner Rs 10 each. However, since the canteens are functioning without a licence, there can be no check on the quality of food that is being served to the vulnerable sections of society.“Our caterers have licence and approval. For Indira canteens, we will submit our application this week and we will hopefully get it in 60 days,” said N Manjunath Prasad, Commissioner BBMP, when BM read him the rule book.Section 31 (7) of the Food Safety Act states that if the food is manufactured at one spot and is sold or exhibited at another then separate licences are required to operate both establishments. The licence and registration is also granted only after the general hygiene and the quality of food is checked and found to be adhering to the safety norms.As per FSSAI guidelines, the license and registration details are to be displayed prominently at the establishment where the food is being served. As per section 63 of the Food Safety Act, any person or food business operator except for temporary stall owners and petty hawkers (section 31 [2]) found running food business without the licence could be imprisoned for six months and also fined Rs 5 lakh.According to Manoj Kumar Meena, the food safety wing would be entitled to collect samples and conduct food safety checks if required once the canteens are registered and licences are sought from the department., president of Karnataka Hotel Owners’said nobody can run a canteen or restaurant without the requisite licences. “If they are running Indira Canteens without a licence, then it is absolutely wrong,” he said, adding that inspections have to be conducted regularly.Recently, evenpassed guidelines making it mandatory for college canteens to get FSSAI licence.BBMP, on the other hand, seems to be under the government’s election year spell.