Una, February 6: ISO PDS certified model shops will be opened in Una district to ensure proper storage of food grains and to prevent any inconvenience to ration cardholders during the summer months. This was stated by Dr. Satyaprakash Katyal, Chairman of the State Food Security Commission, while addressing a press conference on Friday.
He said that the purpose of his four-day visit to Una district was to monitor the effective implementation of various Central and State Government-sponsored schemes related to the National Food Security Act and nutrition in the district.
In this regard, detailed discussions were held with the concerned departments regarding ration distribution, quality of food grains, grievance redressal system and prompt action, availability of mid-day meals for children in schools, diet charts, food quality, condition of toilets, child care and nutrition in Anganwadis, regular health check-ups and nutrition for pregnant and lactating women and newborns, availability of mid-day meals in schools, availability and utility of nutrition gardens, and necessary feedback was also taken.
Dr. Katyal informed that today, various service provider institutions were visited to monitor these schemes on the ground. He said that under NFSA, flour mills, mid-day meal centers, Anganwadi centers, and fair price shops were visited to assess the situation on the spot. He said that the flour mill supplying flour was found to be mixing maida (refined flour) and semolina. Instructions were given to the department on the spot to conduct the necessary investigation and take action.
He said that after visiting schools in Bangana, Una, and Haroli blocks, the situation regarding mid-day meals was found to be satisfactory, except for one institution. In one school, where sufficient ration was not found for the mid-day meal, instructions were given to replace the mid-day meal in-charge on the spot to prevent such a situation from recurring. The cleanliness and storage of food items in Anganwadi centers were found to be satisfactory. Upon inspecting the fair price shops, the operation of the shops and the storage of food grains were found to be proper. He informed that instructions have been given to school midday meal workers to undergo medical checkups every three months. He also directed that the number of regular inspections in schools be increased. He visited the Nutrition Rehabilitation Center operating at Una Hospital and issued necessary instructions. The facilities being provided at the Chinnamastika Leprosy Ashram were also assessed. Feedback was taken from the residents there, which was found to be satisfactory.
Present at the press conference were Food and Civil Supplies Controller Rajiv Sharma, Assistant Commissioner Food Safety Jagdish Dhiman, and Deputy Director Education Som Lal Dhiman.