In order to ensure wholesome and hygienic food articles in the market for the consumers during the holy month of Ramdan, Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat has called upon the Drugs & Food Control Organization (D&FCO) to undertake a 10-day State-wide special drive . While reviewing the overall functioning of the (D&FCO) at a high-level meeting held here today, the Minister said that the Department has a special and pious mandate to ensure quality food and other allied eatables for the consumers, and every functionary must make synergized efforts to achieve the objective. He issued specific instructions to the Controller D&FCO to chalk out a well-knit strategy to conduct a systematic inspection of various food outlets including, Restaurants, Dhabas and those dealing with Bakery, meet, chicken, milk and milk products across the state and undertaking simultaneous lab tests of the samples of these eatables. He directed for severe action against those indulging in unhealthy trade practices in the market.The Minister said that to ensure quality food products as per the Food Safety Standards Act to the consumers of the State is the topmost priority of the Government and all necessary steps in this direction will be taken. He said that Government has earmarked sufficient funds for up-gradation of infrastructure like food testing labs, purchase of modern gadgets and all other necessary steps required to further rejuvenating the functioning of the organization. He called for optimum use of men and machinery, complete transparency and accountability at all level, adding that every action of this important organization is directly linked with the lives of people of the State and honest efforts needed to be made to maintain its credibility.
Various important issues related to the functioning of the organization were discussed in detail and it was emphasized that the Department will move a comprehensive proposal regarding the requirement of funds for modernization of infrastructure, creation of posts of various categories, revision of rules etc. The Minister urged the Controller D&FCO to personally pursue the priority issues with the Administrative Department. He also directed for monitoring the progress of on-going up-gradation of Food Testing Labs at Jammu and Srinagar and immediate steps for procurement of land for establishment of a modern lab at Lakhanpur for which the funds have been provided by the Government of India.The Minister also directed for a sustained campaign to check the sale of sub-standard drugs and habit forming drugs from the market. The concerned Drugs Inspectors should conduct regular inspections of drug outlets where there are reports of such practices and take stern action against the culprits.Controller D&FCO, J&K, Ms. Lotika Khajuria gave detailed account of the activities and notable achievements of the organization.
She also put forth various demands for further rejuvenating the functioning. It was revealed that to further augment the functioning, the Organization has recently procured five numbers of Mobile Testing Labs which will help in undertaking tests of food articles and drugs even in the remote areas rapidly.She said that work on two regional level Food Testing Labs (Jammu and Srinagar) and augmentation of Drug Testing Labs is at advanced stage and an amount of Rs. 13 crore has been released out of Rs. 34 crore Central assistance for setting up of Modern Testing Lab at Lakhanpur for which the Department is in the process of procurement of land.Giving details of other notable achievements, she informed that the Organization has seized un-licensed, unclaimed objectionable drugs worth Rs. 1.40 crore under various provisions of Drugs & Cosmetic Rules during the year 2016-17. Similarly, the food articles worth Rs. 24 lakh were also seized for violation of various provisions of Food Safety Act and action under law initiated against the culprits, she added.Commissioner/Secretary Health & Medical Education, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Director Family Welfare, Dr. Sameer Mattoo, Director Health Services, Kashmir, Dr. Saleem-ur-Rehman, Mission Director, NHM, Dr. Mohan Singh, Additional Secretary Health, K.S. Chib, Joint Director Planning (H&ME), Madan Lal Bhagat and other senior functionaries of the F&CO were present in the meeting.