By not appointing the Food Safety Commissioner and leaving the department headless, the message that the Government intends to convey is that it does not attach much importance to the organization. It is ironic that on the one hand the Government pledges resources to the improvement of health facilities and on the other hand it is not willing to ensure safety of food that is meant for the consumption of the people. Actually, a case has been brought before the High Court questioning why the Food Safety Commissioner is not appointed. The Commission has other vacancies also to make up its manpower, but the court’s observation is that first the Commissioner should be appointed and other appointments will follow.
The essential component of Food Safety Commissioner is the existence of food testing laboratories. There are only two such laboratories in the State. However, these laboratories need to be accredited by National Accreditation Board of Laboratories (NABL) Government of India so that result of lifted samples is done here without referring the samples to referral laboratories outside the state. Besides, the two food testing laboratories one each in Jammu and Srinagar are lacking adequate manpower as well as equipment. Consequently accreditation of these laboratories cannot be possible unless these are brought up to the established standards in all respects.
What one gathers from the story is that the Government and particularly the Health Department have never shown seriousness about maintaining high standard of food which the people of the State are supposed to consume. It is intriguing that the State is soft-paddling with the matter instead of expediting it. It is not good governance that the court has to intervene on such administrative matters as can be handled by the administrative machinery itself easily but with a sense of urgency and responsibility. Hospital records show that the number of patients of malnutrition is fast increasing in the State. It is a clear warning that food quality has to be improved to save the people from various diseases emanating from malnutrition.
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