Lok Sabha Question No. 841 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-20
Subject: Bad Quality of Food
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK, JOSE K. MANI, MANSHANKAR NINAMA, PARAYAMPARANBIL KUTTAPPAN BIJU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.841 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2017

## BAD QUALITY OF FOOD

†841. DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK':

SHRI JOSE K. MANI:

SHRI MANSHANKAR NINAMA:

DR. P.K. BIJU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the comptroller and Auditor General has made an observation in its latest report that low quality of food is being served in the trains;
- (b)   if so, the steps being taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c)  whether  the  served  food  is  re-used  which  adversely  affects  the health of passengers ; and
- (d) if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  these conditions?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 841  BY DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK', SHRI JOSE K.  MANI,    SHRI  MANSHANKAR  NINAMA  AND  DR.  P.K.  BIJU  TO  BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 20.12.2017 REGARDING BAD QUALITY OF FOOD

& (b): Yes, Madam. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in  its  Report  No.  13  of  2017  dated  21.7.2017  on  'Catering  Services  in Indian  Railways'  has  highlighted  deficiencies  in  catering  services  being

(a) provided to passengers on Indian Railways.

In its endeavour  to  provide  quality and  hygienic  food  to the passengers,  Indian  Railways  have developed  and  operationalized  an institutionalized  mechanism  for  monitoring  of  quality  and  hygiene  of catering services through regular inspections at various levels to address catering  complaints.  Further,  to  improve  the  standard  of  food  being provided  to  passengers,    new  Catering  Policy  has  been  issued  on  27 th February,  2017  wherein  inter-alia  Indian  Railway  Catering  and  Tourism Corporation Limited (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  is  to  set  up  new  kitchens  and  upgrade  existing  ones.    Further, instructions  have  been  issued  to  provide  optional  catering  service,  as  a pilot project, on 32 Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto trains under the management of IRCTC w.e.f.  01/08/2017 for an initial period of 180 days. Further steps being taken to ensure that good quality and hygienic food is served  to  the  passengers  inter-alia  includes  (i)  Introduction  of  station based E-Catering for widening the range of options available to passengers for  ordering  food  of  their  choice.  (ii)  Pilot  for  introduction  of  precooked food ('ready to eat' meals) in the range of options available to passengers.

(iii) Operation of centralized Catering Service Monitoring Cell (CSMC) (toll free number 1800-111-321) for prompt redressal of passenger grievances relating  to  the  catering  activities  and  real  time  assistance  to  travelling public.  (iv)  Imposition  of  penalties  in  case  of  deficiencies  detected  in services. (v) Operation of all India Helpline (No.138) for rail-users to lodge complaints/suggestions regarding food and catering services (vi)  A  Twitter  handle  @  IRCATERING  has  also  been  made  operational  to cater  to  the  complaints/suggestions  with  regard  to  catering  services. (vii)  A  policy  of  zero  tolerance  towards  poor  quality  of  food  served  to passengers  and  overcharging  is  being  followed  and  during  the  current Financial Year (i.e. April to October'17), 12 catering contracts have been terminated for complaint related to catering or other contractual deficiencies.

(c):  No, Madam.

(d):  Does not arise.

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