Lok Sabha Question No. 1911 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-02
Subject: Eat Right Station
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Raju Bista

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1911 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2ND AUGUST, 2024

## EATRIGHT STATION

## 1911. SHRI RAJU BISTA:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the objectives and criteria of the 'Eat Right Station' certification programme rolled out by FSSAI;

(b) the number of railway stations that have received the 'Eat Right Station' certification to date along with their regional distribution particularly in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and North Dinajpur districts of West Bengal;

(c) the specific measures and improvements realised at these certified stations to meet the certification standards;

(d) the budget allocated and utilized for promoting and implementing the 'Eat Right Station' certification programme; and

- (e) the policies to expand the 'Eat Right Station' certification to more railway stations across the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)

- (a): The Eat Right Railway Station is one of the initiatives under the Eat Right India movement led by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The "Eat Right Station" initiative of FSSAl is designed to enable the Railways to ensure that safe and wholesome food is served to the passengers, visitors and railway officials at stations and platforms. Railway stations that fulfill benchmark criteria are recognized as "Eat Right Stations" certificate of excellence. Criteria of the certification is:-
- i. The food handlers working at the railway station's catering units/food establishments are required to undergo Food Safety Training & Certification (FoSTaC) of FSSAI on Good Hygiene Practices.
- ii. It is mandatory for the individual catering unit to obtain water testing report to ascertain the cleanliness and safety of drinking water being used in that unit.
- iii. Valid FSSAI registration/license of all the vendors in the Station complex and FoSTaC trained food safety supervisors certificates are some of the important documents required for the certification purpose.
- iv. Pre-audit report and post-audit report are required to be submitted for the certification purpose along with 4-5 good quality pictures of the Station complex demonstrating the gap analysis (if any).

(b): As on 30 th July 2024, total 181 railway stations have received the 'Eat Right Station' certification which includes 11 railway stations of West Bengal. However, as on date, there is no Eat Right Certified station in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and North Dinajpur districts.

(c): The role of FSSAI is to ensure that f o l l o w i n g improvements are realised before certification:-

- i. All the enrolled vendors have undergone FoSTaC taining through its empanelled training partners.
- ii. Individual unit has obtained water testing report to ascertain the cleanliness and safety of drinking water being used in that unit.
- iii. Having valid FSSAI registration/ license of all the vendors in the Station complex and FoSTaC trained food safety supervisors certificate.
- iv. Audit (pre & post) reports submitted by empanelled auditing partners.

(d): As 'Eat Right Station' is a voluntary initiative, there is no fixed budget allocated for it. FSSAI provides INR 20,000/- to INR 25,000/- (unit cost) to the State/UTs for a prospective Railway Station to be certified as the Eat Right Station.

(e): Eat Right Station is a voluntary initiative under the "Eat Right India" campaign and railway stations are encouraged to participate to promote hygiene and food-safety related practices. In order to expand the 'Eat Right Station' certification across the country, some initiatives are taken like:-

- i. Books/Brochures/Resources related to the initiative are available free of cost on the FSSAI/Eat Right India website.
- ii. FSSAI puts up stalls at various exhibitions/expos with banners/standees on 'Eat Right India' initiatives.
- iii. Social media campaigns to disseminate awareness about Eat Right India initiatives.

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