The Co-Chair & Trustee, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Ms. Melinda Gates calling on the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Mr. J.P. Nadda, in New Delhi on March 11, 2016.
20,000 Roadside Vendors To Be Skilled Under PMKVY In The First Phase
New Delhi (PIB-GR-TYP-BIN): Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Mr. J P Nadda launched Project ‘Clean Street Food’ in the presence of Mr. Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge), on March 13. The project of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) aims at to raise the safety standards of foods sold on streets across the capital city of New Delhi by training 20,000 roadside vendors on aspects of health and hygiene, in the first phase.
As part of 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).
Speaking at the launch of the Project, the Health Minister stated that this is a pragmatic, practical, constructive and positive approach to skilling one of the largest unorganized 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 steep, he noted. 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, Mr. Nadda added.
Mr. Rajiv Pratap Rudy pointed out that “Project – Clean Street Food will change the lives of millions of Indians at the bottom of the pyramid, boost the country’s economic development and lead to the rediscovery of India’s rich tradition of street food. Based on our learning from the Delhi project, the Skill India and FSSAI along with State Governments will replicate this initiative in other parts of India”.
The FSSAI today also launched a Mobile App to empower citizens to reach out to the food enforcement machinery for any concerns or suggestions that they may have on the issue of food safety.
Mr. Rohit Nandan, Secretary, Ministry of Skills Development & Entrepreneurship; Mr. Ashish Bahuguna, Chairperson FSSAI; Mr. Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI and senior officers from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare were also present at the launch function.
(Source: PIB/GR/TYP/BIN/USPA/WN/IAIJ)