Lok Sabha Question No. 148 (STARRED), answered on 2016-07-27
Subject: MoU with CFTRI for Hygienic Products
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.148

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2016

## MOU WITH CFTRI FOR HYGIENIC PRODUCTS

- *148. SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has signed any Memorandum of Understanding  with  the  Central  Food  Technological  Research  Institute (CFTRI) in procuring technology for hygienic food products and services for the train passengers and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)   whether the Government and CFTRI has also agreed to finalise the list of products and services for which CFTRI would provide technology to  Indian  Railway  Catering  and  Tourism  Corporation  (IRCTC)  and  if  so, the details thereof;
- (c)   the time by which the MoU is likely to be implemented; and
- (d)   the other steps taken by the  Government to provide safe, nutritious and hygienic food to the railway passengers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU)

- (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  STARRED QUESTION  NO.  148  BY  SHRIMATI  SUPRIYA  SULE  AND  SHRI  DHANANJAY MAHADIK TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 27.07.2016 REGARDING MOU WITH CFTRI FOR HYGIENIC PRODUCTS (a) to  (c):  Yes,  Madam.  A  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  has  been signed on 27.06.2016 between Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation  (IRCTC)  and  Central  Food  Technological  Research  Institute (CFTRI), Mysore for transfer of technology to provide hygienic food products and services to train passengers.  The MoU will be valid for a period of one year. IRCTC and CFTRI have also agreed to finalize the list of products and services for which technology transfer is required from CFTRI for implementation by IRCTC on mutually agreed terms and conditions. (d):  Monitoring  of  catering  services  &  redressal  of  complaints  is  an  ongoing exercise.  Further,  steps  taken  to  improve  the  quality  of  food  in  Railways inter-alia include: (i) Phased introduction of station based e-catering at all A1 and  A  category  stations  for  widening  the  range  of  options  available  to passengers  for  ordering  food  of  their  choice.  (ii)  Introduction  of  precooked food  ('ready  to  eat'  meals).  (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 with the address @IRCATERING has also been made  operational  to  cater  to  the  complaints/suggestions  with  regard  to catering  services  (vii)  Technology  transfer  agreement  with  Defence  Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), Mysore for ready to eat products has also been signed to provide safe, nutritious and hygienic food for the Railway passengers.

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