Cases of food poisoning are reported to Health Department almost regularly. In particular, food poisoning has been a tragic event that has struck many school children who are receiving mid-day meals from the government agencies. The situation in our State is no better. We do not have any food checking and food passing device in place as yet. The result is that vast number of population takes adulterated food and still they do not know what they are doing.
The Division Bench of the State High Court has taken up suo moto case of non availability of food testing mechanism in the State and has, therefore, directed the Government to ensure that the facility to check and curb the food adulteration across the state is placed in order before the next hearing of the case. The amicus curie has submitted that there is no laboratory functional, no manpower, and no scientist and how State expects that the food adulteration will be curbed and stopped.
The hard facts are that there is dearth of manpower, transportation mechanism and related difficulties. The court taking serious note of the existing situation has directed the government to meet all requirements for two efficient and functional food testing laboratories one each in Srinagar and Jammu. We have raised this issue in these columns several times. Establishment of two modern and well equipped functional laboratories, one each in summer and winter capital would be an appreciable programme but we would emphasize that all district level hospitals should be provided with food testing system so that we have a foolproof system that will not allow food poisoning to become a cause of public distress in rural as well as urban areas.
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