Activists urge state to ensure supply of healthy food

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 15

On the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day today, activists appealed to the state government to re-jig the Food Safety and Standard Authority (FSSA) and Food and Civil Supplies Department and Corporation to ensure supply of healthy food products to consumers, as mandated under the Consumer Protection and Rights Act.

The activists said “Healthy Food Is Consumers’ Right” was the mantra of the World Consumer Rights Day, which was celebrated in the state through seminars and rallies today. Activists and officials asked the consumers to ensure that they got health food and products so that companies or government agencies faltering on this could be dragged to the consumer grievances redressal forums and commissions, they added.

The consumers in tribal belts and remote areas have been accusing the state agencies of dumping sub-standard and expired food stuff in the mid-day meals, mainly in Lahaul-Spiti.

On the other hand, Director, State Food and Civil Supplies Department, Priyatu Mandal said the state agencies were supplying heath food products through ration shops and the government had framed rules and regulations to ensure health foods. The consumers needed to be aware about their rights and duties. They should buy food stuff and products that sufficed their needs and should not be influenced by the tide of consumerism.

Mandal said food security was as important as national security and urged consumers to make their aadhaar cards to get benefit of the government schemes. The government was providing cheap and subsidised food items to consumers in the state, he added. Yogita Dutt, member of the District Consumer Forum, urged consumers to take advantage of the Consumers Protection and Rights Act in case they felt cheated by sellers or manufacturing companies or did not get quality products. Meanwhile, schoolchildren also took out a consumers’ rights awareness rally in the city carrying banners with slogans.