NEW DELHI: Vendors selling street food in the national capital will now be sensitised about health and hygiene for raising food safety standards.
Health Minister J P Nadda today launched the project titled as 'Clean Street Food' to be undertaken by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The FSSAI will train street food vendors under the Recognition of Prior Learning category of the Centre's skills training scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.
Speaking at the launch of the Project, Nadda said it is a pragmatic, practical, constructive and positive approach to skilling one of the largest unorganised sectors of the country.
"With nearly 20 lakh street vendors in the country, the training of 20,000 vendors on a pilot basis in the NCR of Delhi is a welcome steep. As street food forms an integral part of our society, the project which shall upgrade the skills of the street food vendors, will also contribute to preventive and promotive health," he said.
Under the Delhi Project, 20,000 food street vendors would be trained, assessed and certified by seven training partners over the next four weeks at 40 training centres.
Besides, the FSSAI also launched a Mobile App to empower citizens to reach out to the food enforcement machinery for any concerns or suggestions that they may have on the issue of food safety.
The National Association of Street Vendors of India is engaged in mobilization of street vendors across Delhi to persuade them to undergo training.
The Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skill Council, an affiliate of the National Skill Development Corporation, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will be the training provider under the Project.
Food vendors will receive Smart Skill-cum-Registration cards on completion of the training.