Lok Sabha Question No. 1240 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-24
Subject: Junk Food
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAJU ALIAS DEVAPPA ANNA SHETTI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1240 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2017

## Junk Food

†1240. SHRI RAJU SHETTY:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that the habit of eating junk food is increasing day  by  day  in  schools  and  colleges,  due  to  which  the  health  of  students  is  being adversely affected;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether Delhi High Court had suggested to put a ban on the sale of junk food in schools and colleges some years back;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a) and (b): The Government of India or The Directorate of Education,  Government of  the  National  Capital  Territory  of  Delhi  (GNCT)    Delhi  have    not  conducted  any study/survey in this regard. However, it is observed that consumption of junk food among the school children is changing their eating habits and they are moving away from  the  habit  of  eating  wholesome  and  nutritious  food,  which  may  have  adverse effect  on  their  health.  This  matter  is  of  utmost  importance  therefore,  various organizations under the Government of India and The Directorate of Education, GNCT Delhi have issued circulars for promoting importance of eating wholesome & nutritious food among the children and other stakeholders.

(c) and (d):  Hon'ble  High  Court  of  Delhi  has  directed  in  the  judgment  of  WP(C) 8568/2010  dated  25.2.2015  (  Corrected  and  released  on  16.3.2015  )  that  the guidelines  framed  by  Food  Safety  and  Standads  Authority  of  India  (  FSSAI)    for Promoting Wholesome and Nutritious Food and Restricting/Limiting the Availability of Foods  High  in  Fat,  Sugar  and  Salt  (HFSS  Foods)  among  School  Children  be implemented by the Administrator, Delhi under rule 43 of DSEAR. It further directed Central  Board  of  Secondary  Education  (CBSE)  to,  on  or  before  30th  April,  2015, consider  the  said  aspect  and  take  a  decision  thereon  and  if  possible,  include  the condition aforesaid in the conditions for affiliation / continued affiliation prescribed by it.

(e):  Guidelines  in  this  regard  have  been  issued  by  Directorate  of  Education,  GNCT

Delhi.  There  are  no  canteens  in  the  Govt.  Schools  under  Directorate  of  Education, GNCT  Delhi  and  such  facilities  are  available  in  most  of  the  Aided  and  Recognised Unaided Schools. Therefore, for creating widespread awareness among children about ill  effects  of  Food  High  in  Fat,  Sugar  and  Salt  (HFSS  Foods)  &  promoting  the consumption of wholesome & nutritious food and for effective implementation of the guidelines  framed  by  FSSAI,  the  Directorate  of  Education,  GNCT  Delhi  has  issued circulars for all Heads of Govt., Govt. Aided and Recognised Unaided Schools under its jurisdiction. Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), has issued strict directions to its affiliated schools to desist from serving fast food in schools.  CBSE has also directed schools to ensure that Junk/fast food needs to be replaced completely with healthy snacks.    Carbonated  and  aerated  beverages  may  be  replaced  by  Juices  and  dairy products (Lassi, Chach, Flavored milk etc.). The syllabus on Health and Physical Education approved by National Monitoring Committee  of  National  Council  of  Educational  Research  and  Training  (NCERT)  as  a follow- up of National Curriculum Framework 2005 has included the contents related to Junk food.  In class three while highlighting the importance of 'wholesome diets' 'implications of Junk' food has been included as one of the key concepts.  Whereas in class IV, the harmful effects of Junk food and the importance of nutritious food has been included.  In class IX, the nutritional needs, over nutrition, under nutrition and its effects on health are the key concepts of the syllabus. Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) has issued directives to all its schools not to allow junk food in school canteens and also to educate school children about the benefits of healthful and nutritious food. University  Grant  Commission  has  also  issued  instructions  against  availability and sale of Junk food in Higher Educational Institutions. Educations being a subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitution, substantial majority of the schools are under the purview of the State Government.  It is, therefore, for the respective State/Union Territory Governments to prevent sale of Junk food in schools.

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