A few days back allegedly worms were found in the mid-day meals supplied by a self-help group (SHG) to some schools in the Ponda Taluka. The worms were in soya bean chunks that were in a pulao dish. After inspection of the kitchen and hygienic conditions and having collected samples, the Food and Drugs Directorate (FDA) permitted the SHG to continue supplying the meals. Preliminary reports say that soya beans bought from a shop could have been contaminated. The moot questions are: were samples taken from the shop wherefrom the soya beans were procured by the SHG? Were samples obtained from the retailer and dealer who supplied soya beans to that shop, and to other shops? Now the government has suspended the operation of the SHG. This would result in a huge loss to the poor ladies who slog in the SHG.
Contrast the above case with that from Margao. On 27th Sep the FDA had asked a unit that supplied food to Rajdhani Express to shut down for not following hygienic norms and for not having a FSSAI registration. As per reports, the unit continued its operation and the FDA is mulling to file a case against the owners. Should not the caterer be taken to task quickly as he supplies food to hundreds to passengers who might fall sick during or after the journey? Why are different yardsticks used for the SHG and the railway caterers?
