Key Update

On Friday, September 20, Varanasi took a significant step toward becoming a world-class tourist destination by training 229 street food vendors on food safety and hygiene. The Circuit House auditorium hosted the session, led by U.S. Dhyani, Executive Director of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), New Delhi.

Vendors Receive Kits and Practical Guidance

During the session, officials educated vendors on proper hygiene practices and the importance of safe food handling. Ankleeshwar Mishra, Joint Director of FSSAI, distributed hygiene kits and home testing kits to help vendors implement the knowledge they had gained. Dhyani emphasised the vendors’ critical role in public health and guided them on hygienic food preparation and sales techniques.

Recognition and Government Support

At the end of the training, officials awarded Fast Track certificates to the participating vendors. Isha Kalia, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, provided valuable insights into the PM SVANidhi scheme, which aims to support street vendors through microcredit and business development.

Source: The Times of India