Food commission member conducts surprise inspections in schools, anganwadi centres
Vijay Dutt, member of the Punjab State Food Commission, conducted surprise inspections across several government schools and anganwadi centres in the Gumtala area and along the Fatehgarh Churian Road in Amritsar on Monday.
The visit aimed to assess the on-ground implementation of welfare schemes under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Dutt was accompanied by officials from the District Education Department.
During the inspection, multiple violations of hygiene and safety norms under the mid-day meal scheme were observed. Cooking staff were found not wearing the prescribed attire, including head caps, aprons and gloves, and basic hygiene standards were not being followed.
Dutt expressed serious concern over the unsanitary condition of kitchen areas, noting the presence of kitchen waste and lack of cleanliness. He reprimanded school administrations and directed them to ensure immediate compliance with safety and hygiene regulations.
“The meal preparation must strictly follow food safety and hygiene protocols, along with regular health check-ups of cooking staff and helpers to ensure the highest standards of hygiene. Transparency and cleanliness should be maintained throughout the entire cooking and serving process, leaving no room for errors or violations,” he said.
He also instructed school authorities to properly maintain food testing registers, serve clean and nutritious meals, and conduct routine health screenings of students. Dutt personally interacted with the students to gather feedback on the meal’s quality and even joined them in their mid-day meal to evaluate it first-hand.
Another major concern flagged was the poor quality of drinking water in several schools. Dutt observed that the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) levels in some areas were exceeding the WHO limit of 1000 mg/L, with high pH levels resulting in unpleasant taste. He directed school officials to involve the relevant departments immediately and conduct regular water quality tests to ensure safe drinking water.
Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney had earlier instructed the Education Department to ensure schools were inspected and cleaned thoroughly before reopening post-summer break. However, many rural government schools are still relying on untreated groundwater, lacking RO systems or water filters.
Additionally, it was found that many schools and anganwadi centres had failed to display the Punjab State Food Commission’s Complaint and Helpline Number, despite clear instructions. Dutt issued strict orders that the helpline number (9876764545) must be prominently displayed at every institution, enabling beneficiaries to raise concerns directly.
Reiterating the importance of strict oversight, Dutt said, “No negligence will be tolerated in schemes related to children’s health and nutrition. If such violations persist in the future, strict action will be taken against those responsible.”
Amritsar