PANAJI
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday voiced his plan to focus on upgrading the quality of nutrition provided at Goa Medical College and Hospital. Rane disclosed that GMC patients will soon receive sealed food prepared in hygienic manner as per their specific dietary requirements.
The Health Minister, who also holds the charge of Women and Child Development, was speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with NGOs working in the field of women empowerment.
The Health Minister expressed anguish and shock at the deplorable conditions of the canteens managed at GMC complex. He said, “GMC students eat out of the campus. Canteens are in bad shape. We are going in for the overall nutrition of the patients and there will be separate cafeterias for patients, their relatives and students and doctors. Sealed food will be sent as per the dietary requirement of the patient and the plates will be sent back to the canteen for proper cleaning.”
“Proper agencies experienced in this field of nutrition will be given the job. I am only trying to build a robust medical infrastructure. I have cancelled the food license of the GMC canteen owner. There were lizards in the food and around 200 students complained. There were rats around the burgers. Fresh chapattis were kept in a dustbin. We will open the bid for the tender by Tuesday,” Rane stated. He also stated that he will peruse the enquiry report against the former canteen manager and take a decision accordingly.
Meanwhile, Rane also informed that the WCD department will soon initiate the procedure to amend the Goa State Commission for Women Act, 1996, to lend it relevance in present times.
Around 120 NGOs attended the meeting with the minister and several NGOs made presentations to express their apprehensions.
Speaking about the plan to introduce e-learning facilities in anganwadis, Rane said, “Funds will be allocated by GSIDC to create 100 model Anganwadis on 100 to 80 sq mts of land. It will be a new e-learning module, similar to the one Sesa Goa is building in my constituency. We have begun training programs in nutrition and infant feeding for anganwadi workers.”
