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Implementing FSSR in Karnataka difficult as 130 FSO posts remain vacant
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Friday, 23 December, 2011, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Akshay Kalbag, Mumbai
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Grossly under-staffed, the Karnataka food safety commissionerate is obviously finding it very difficult to enforce the Food Safety and Standards Rules, which came into effect this year.
While the requirement is for 234 food safety officers (FSOs), there are a whopping 130 vacancies, and appointing new officers is not going to be a cakewalk, as the work is of a technical nature.
Even if they find the right men for the job, they will have to be specially trained according to the guidelines of the revised Act, and the existing officers will of course have to be re-trained, re-oriented and re-designated (And despite that, the chances of a shortfall of FSO remain pretty high).
Dr Srinivasa Gowda, joint director, Public Health Institute (a government of Karnataka undertaking), says the filling of the vacant slots depends on when the government creates posts, which is in fact a bigger hitch than even the shortage of qualified persons or the lack of training.
A proposal has been submitted to the Karnataka government for the appointment of an independent cadre of FSO. The guidelines regarding the requirements have been framed as well.
“We do not know when the government will revert regarding the proposal for the appointment of new FSO,” he said, adding, “It is upto the state food safety commissioner to take a call on the time-frame for the consolidation of the commissionerate.”
To be an FSO, one needs to have obtained a degree in food technology, dairy technology, biotechnology, oil technology, agricultural sciences or veterinary sciences. He should have received his training in an institute affiliated to the food authority.
The FSO who are currently in service are handling larger areas, thus making it difficult to enforce the provisions of the Act. Some officers lack sufficient awareness and education about the new Act, which obviously poses another problem.
“Only 19 of the 30 designated officers have the required training,” said Dr Gowda, adding that the remaining 11 would have to be trained by those who have already been trained.
According to the guidelines of the FSSA, which replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act and came into being on August 5 this year, a food safety team has to be appointed in each state.
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