TAMIL Nadu unit of Grahak Panchayat urged the Railway Ministry to serve only hygienic food in trains. In a memorandum sent to the Union Railway Minister, Shri MN Sundar, Tamil Nadu coordinator and Shri MK Balasubramanian, National Council Member said the food to be served to train passengers is prepared in highly unhygienic conditions and the Ministry must take corrective steps immediately. In the memorandum they also quoted a news item appeared in the Times of India, Chennai edition, on November 9. The news item revealed that two caterers, contracted to supply food to the train passengers were preparing food on the terrace of a building in the midst of over flowing sewage. The Chennai Corporation has already issued order to seal the building. Interestingly, the catering firms or contractors are subject to clearance by a health inspector and Railways health inspectors. “Since a large number of passengers prefer to travel by trains, it is the duty of the Indian Railways to ensure that the passengers receive hygienic food. At the time when the Government is spending billions of rupees on improving health of the citizens, the objective of all such campaigns will remain unfruitful if the train passengers are served poor quality food,” the memorandum said. (VSK Chennai)
