Delhi Govt Drafts Policy To Check Food Wastage At Social Functions

In order to check food wastage, the Delhi government has reportedly drafted a policy which is going to check wastage of food at social functions and events. According to Economic Times, all organisers and caterers will have to register themselves with NGOs to manage surplus food which will then be distributed among the needy and underprivileged.

What does the draft policy say?

The Draft ‘Policy for Holding Social Functions in Hotels, Motels and Low-Density Residential Area (LDRA) in National Capital Territory of Delhi’ reads, “The caterer should make proper arrangements to handover fresh surplus and leftover food to these NGOs.” Moreover, according to the draft policy, owners, organisers and caterer must have the necessary permissions like FSSAI. The caterer should make proper arrangements to handover fresh surplus and leftover food to these NGOs and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to run the kitchens.

It also says that food preparation should be according to the maximum number of guests that is prescribed by the venue and the LDRA. The number of guests also cannot exceed the number which is approved by the Urban Local Body. “If the food is surplus due to lower turnout of the guest and resultant less consumption, then it shall be the responsibility of organiser of the social function to remove that food from the social function site, immediately after the completion of the duration of that social function,” it says.

The draft policy further states that the Commissioner Food Safety will ensure that the above-mentioned guidelines are met with and violation would invite action from the deployed officers by the Commissioner Food Safety. These new rules will reportedly be enforced by periodical inspections which will be carried out by officers of various state stake-holding agencies. Moreover, officers of different ULBs can conduct complaint-based inspections without disrupting the function. The total number of days for which social functions can be organised is restricted to just 120 days.

To draft the policy, the Chief Secretary has constituted a committee of four officers, including Principal Secretaries of Urban Development and Health, Chief Executive Officer, Delhi Jal Board and Member Secretary, Delhi Pollution Control Committee. Reportedly, the decision to form a comprehensive policy was taken after the Supreme Court decision. In December 2018, the Delhi government had told the Supreme Court that it was contemplating a policy to “limit” the number of guests at “extravagant” weddings to check food wastage.

While a lot of individuals have NGOs have been making tremendous efforts to curb the problem of hunger and food wastage, such an initiative from the Delhi government is certainly a right step forward towards making citizens a little more responsible.

Also Read: ‘Happy Fridge’: The Key To Bridge Food Wastage And Hunger Problem In India