LEH: With Rs 1 crore as financial assistance from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Ladakh administration is set to establish its first modern food street in Leh, with the ball set rolling to prepare a layout plan and final identification of location.
This was informed as Advisor to Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Dr Pawan Kotwal chaired a meeting of the State level Committee to Support Modernisation of Urban Street Food Vendors (SUSV) at Civil Secretariat, Leh.
Kotwal, who is also chairman of SUSV Ladakh, was informed by the Director Health Services, also the MD NHM Ladakh, about SUSV, possibility to improve the hygiene and food safety standards protocols,ashroom and toilet facilities for street food vendors.
The committee discussed deliberately on the points viz. location, hygienic food, sanitation, drinking water facilities, disposal of wastes of food streets.
The Advisor directed to the concerned department to first identify the feasible location to set up food street and suggested that the location should be feasible in terms of space, parking and other basic amenities and facilities such as public conveniences.
The Advisor directed the Chief Engineer, PWD Leh to prepare a layout plan and detailed project report in consultation with municipal committee Leh subject to final identification of location.
Pertinently, under Support to Urban Street Vendors (SUSV), a component of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY- NULM), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is providing financial support to States and UTs which include, inter-alia, improvement of infrastructure, provision of basic services viz. paving, water supply, toilets, waste disposal facility, lighting, common storage space, specialized carts for specific types of trades, temporary sheds and parking facilities.
In addition, under the scheme, States and UTs should are mandated to conduct training programmes for street vendors to orient them on aspects viz. food safety, maintenance of hygiene, and waste disposal.
Meanwhile, to operationalise healthy and hygienic food streets, the National Health Mission of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will provide financial assistance of Rs. 1.00 crore per food-street as a pilot to support 100 such food streets across the country.
Administrative Secretary, Tourism; Deputy Commissioner, Leh; Director Health Service/ MD NHM Ladakh; Chief Engineer, PWD (R&B); Assistant Commissioner Food Safety; Executive Officer, MC Leh; besides other concerned officers attended the meeting.
