Ministry of Railways in India have been forced to draft a new catering policy after the CAG condemned it for providing food items unfit for human consumption.
Among the new measures, the government has announced its plans of ‘unbundling of catering services on trains.’
It said, “IRCTC has been mandated to carry out the unbundling by creating a distinction primarily between food preparation and food distribution. In order to upgrade quality of food preparation IRCTC to set up new kitchens and upgrade existing ones.”
1/ New Catering Policy, 2017 pic.twitter.com/GGCYwccUMM
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) July 23, 2017
In a stunning revelation by the Comptroller and Auditor General, it had emerged that the food prepared by the Indian Railways’ is not suitable for human consumption.
The CAG’s report had said that the catering services in Indian Railways use unpurified tap water in the preparation of beverages and food items in trains, and leave them in the open for flies, insects, rats and cockroaches to feast upon. The catering service also leaves waste bins uncovered, unwashed and spilling with leftovers.
Other than the food served inside the trains, food items sold on the platforms too are unfit for human consumption as often contaminated, recycled, shelf-life expired packaged and bottled items are sold there.
The CAG report has reportedly blamed the frequent change in catering policy and transfer of responsibility to manage catering units for the mess.