Jammu: The Track-I of Nationwide “Eat Right India” movement, Swasth Bharat Yatra reached Jammu which was received by the team of Commissionerate of Food Safety, Municipal Limits Jammu at Hari Palace, Jammu, where the baton was exchanged and awareness programme was organised.
Prabhat Pheri (Activation Walk) was organised in the morning hours that passed through various areas of Green Belt Park, Gandhi Nagar, Panama Chowk, Police Lines and culminated at Bahu Plaza. The theme of the Prabhat Pheri is to generate awareness regarding eat healthy, safe, fortified food and to avoid wastage of food. The Eat Right convention was also organised at Hotel Asia, Jammu. The convention was a formal gathering of all the stakeholders who have a role to play in ensuring safe and wholesome food for the citizens.
A mega event was organised in the Government Women College, Gandhi Naga, Jammu, which was inaugurated by Atul Kumar Dullo, Principal Secretay to Government, Health & Medical Education Department, J&K who was also the Chief Guest on the occasion & Commissioner Food Safety, J&K Dr. Abdul Kabir Dar was Guest of Honour. On the said occasion Eat Right Mela was also organised by the various stakeholders including NGOs, Hoteliers, and Educational Institutions on the various issues pertaining to Food Safety viz, Dairy, Meat & Meat Products, Food Labelling, Street Food Vendors, Disposal of waste material and Food Adulteration. The students of Post Graduate Department of Food Science & Technology, Government Women’s College, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu demonstrated different techniques for detection of adulterants at home besides practice for hand washing before and after handling the food. At the said Mela, various Food Stalls for promotion of fortified and organic foods were established by different stakeholders with posters, brochures and flyers to motivate people to be mindful of safe and nutritious food habits.
A painting competition on Eat Right India was also organised in collaboration with Jammu & Kashmir Creative Arts in which students of various schools participated. A cultural programme was presented by Samooh Theatre Cultural Team on the theme of Eat Right India and items like Nukad Natak was played to encourage the audience for eating healthy, safe and fortified foods and to avoid food wastage.
The Commissioner Food Safety while addressing the audience highlighted the achievements of the department and stressed for cooperation of all the stakeholders for ensuring safe and wholesome food to the general public as the Food Safety is a collective concern of the society. The chief guest Sh. Atul Kumar Duloo in his address informed the audience that the modern technology has been acquired in the Food Texting Lab to detect the various contaminants. However, the department is also in process of reorganization of the department to plug the loopholes, he said. He also emphasised that enforcement cannot achieve the objective of the FSS Act and sought cooperation from all the stakeholders, besides he stressed upon the enforcement authorities to create awareness among masses on various issues of food safety. While appreciating the efforts of the Commissionerate for preparedness and effective implementation of Food Safety & Standards Act in the State and emphasized on the need of organising more such programmes like organization of Swasth Bharat Yatra.
