Lok Sabha Question No. 2770 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-11
Subject: Catering Policy 2010
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAJESH VERMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2770 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.05.2016

## CATERING POLICY 2010

## 2770. SHRI RAJESH VERMA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Akhil Bhartiya Railway Khan Pan Licensees Welfare Association  has  given  suggestions/certain  demands  after  issuance  of Catering Policy 2010 and if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Ministry of Railways in this regard, till date;
- (b)  whether  certain  suggestions/  demands  have  been  received  from Hon'ble  Members  of  Parliament  (MPs)  for  implementation  of  the  policy 2010 and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the Ministry has received demands/suggestions from them for facilitating  livelihood  to  the  licensees  small  catering/vending  units  and instructions issued by Ministry of Railways in this regard;
- (d)  whether  Catering  Policy  2010  is  applicable  to  all  the  licensees  of railway selling eatables on railway platform and different policy circulars have been made on licensees selling eatables through static units; and
- (e)  whether  under  present  scenario,  changes  in  Catering  Policy  2010  is being  made  on  the  new  Catering  Policy  being  made  by  Ministry  of Railways and if so, any catering associations/catering welfare associations'  suggestions  were  invited  in  this  regard  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) to (c): Hon'ble Members  of Parliament, other dignitaries and associations including Akhil Bhartiya Railway Khan  Pan Licensees Welfare Association give suggestions regularly to this Ministry regarding the   problems  faced  by  the   rail   users   and   upgradation  of  services.

The  representations/suggestions  received  include  those  for  allowing renewal of licenses pertaining to General Minor Units (GMUs) and Special Minor  Units  (SMUs)  which  were  allotted  prior  to  Catering  Policy  2010, scrapping of tender-based system for allotment of GMUs and problems of licencees and small catering/vending units. These representations/suggestions are given priority and are replied promptly by the appropriate level after taking corrective action, if any, in accordance with the extant policies to improve the services over Indian Railways.

Further,  with  a  view  to  protect  the  Right  of  Livelihood  of    the  small vendors, Hon'ble Supreme Court, vide its judgement delivered on 29.01.2016  has  directed  Railways  that  only  those  licensees  may  be eligible  for  renewal  of  their  licenses  who  can  declare  on  affidavit  that they do not have the license of more than one shop or kiosk in their name or benami license at railway stations.

(d):  Catering  services  are  provided  to  passengers  departmentally  or  by private licencees through both static and mobile units in accordance with the provisions of Catering Policy 2010 as amended from time to time.

(e):   As announced in Rail Budget 2016-17, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) would begin to manage catering services in a  phased  manner.  It  has  also  been  decided  that  IRCTC  would  unbundle catering services by creating a distinction between food preparation and food distribution.

Suggestions received from stakeholders including associations are considered while framing policy.

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