J P Nadda, Union minister for health, has launched a Clean Street Food project in Delhi/NCR that aims at training and building awareness among roadside food vendors for safe and hygienic handing of food. The project was started in close coordination with the ministry of skill development wherein 20,000 street vendors will be given training to make them aware of food safety issues. The project will be replicated across the country later.
According to the ministry of health, as part of the project, Clean Street Food, FSSAI will partner with the ministry of skill development & entrepreneurship to train street food vendors at more than 40 centres across Delhi under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) category of the government’s flagship skills training scheme - Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). Based on learning from the Delhi project, the Skill India and FSSAI along with state governments will replicate this initiative in other parts of India.
Nadda, on the occasion, stated that this is a pragmatic, practical, constructive and positive approach to skilling one of the largest unorganised sectors of the country. “With nearly 20 lakh street vendors in the country, the training of 20,000 vendors on a pilot basis in the NCR of Delhi is a welcome step. As street food forms an integral part of our society, the project which shall upgrade the skills of the street food vendors will also contribute to preventive and promotive health,” he said.
Under the Delhi Project, 20,000 food street vendors would be trained, assessed and certified by seven training partners over the next four weeks at 40 training centres set up for the purpose across Delhi.
Delhi food safety commissioner and the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) were engaged in mobilisation of street vendors across Delhi. The Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skill Council (THSC), an affiliate of the National Skill Development Corporation, ministry of skill development & entrepreneurship, will be the training provider under the project. Food vendors will receive Smart Skill-cum-Registration cards on completion of the training.
Anurag Shanker, programme manager, the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), states that the vendors will be trained in all safety and hygienic subjects from personal hygiene to handling of the food, procurement of the raw material, food preparation and disposal of waste. After the successful completion of the project, the project will be replicated in other parts of the country.
Rajiv Pratap Rudy, minister for skill development, was also present on the occasion.
It is pertinent to mention here that eight places in Delhi were already identified as street food places where street food vendors were trained in maintaining hygiene, sanitation, presentation and so on, according to food safety norms. These are Chandni Chowk, Tilak Nagar, Jheel at Shahadara, Sarojini Nagar, Karol Bagh, Nizamuddin, Krishna Nagar and Paharganj-New Delhi Railway Station.
