Assuring compliance of norms and support to Tandarust Punjab Mission fruit traders have met the Deputy Commissioner Amritsar and have requested to organize a formal Ethical Fruit Ripening Training for the fruit traders , informed Mr Kahan Singh Pannu, the Mission Director while sharing the impact of raids under just ‘a week old’ Tandarust Punjab Mission.He said that widespread checking, sampling and prompt action on defaulters has yielded desired result. Message is clear to one and all that no longer would the artificially ripened unsafe fruits would be permitted to be sold in the markets.He said that ‘corrective and not penal action is the aim’ of government and it is indeed heartening to know that people are ready to support the Mission.
MD further informed that on the behest of traders, programme has been chalked out to organize immediate training workshops in all the main mandis of the state and CDs of the lectures would be prepared and sent to the smaller mandis/markets so that ways/methods of ethical ripening be taught.The experts from Punjab Horticulture Post Harvest Technology Centre have been roped in and they along with the respective District Mandi Officers will dispense the training, beginning from Amritsar wherein the initial demand has been raised.He said that the Tandarust Punjab Mission is being carried out with missionary zeal and any government officer reluctant to perform his duty under the same would be very seriously dealt with. Two officers of the State Health Department, posted in Amritsar have been immediately transferred for non performance of duty and action under rules will be taken upon them; none would be permitted to be a spoilsport, added Pannu.