The Project Serve Safe Food: Training of Street Food Vendors, organised by the National Association Street Vendor of India (NASVI) and supported by the Food Safety Authority, Nagaland, was launched on 13th September 2023 in DC’s Conference Hall, Kohima. 

Welcoming the State Government officials from various departments and food vendors of Kohima district, Subrata Banerjee, Head, Branch Corporate Affairs, Nestle India Ltd. said that Nestle India had joined hands with NASVI and local food authorities in 2016 to ensure proper training to the street food vendors. He said the Nestle India felt the need of training the street food vendors on “food safety” and “hygiene”, which will not only ensure healthy food for consumers but also enable the vendors to sustain and better their livelihoods. The training programme modules included ‘health and hygiene that includes personal hygiene and cart hygiene’; ‘food handling and food safety’; ‘cleaning & pest control’ and ‘waste management – garbage disposal ‘.

Joint Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Nokchasashi on behalf of the Department of Health & Family congratulated Nestle India Ltd. for organising the training program for the Kohima Street Food Vendors. Witnessing the mushrooming of street food vendors in the State capital and Dimapur, he said that safe hygiene practices should become integral to the vendors as the product will be consumed by people of all ages and many may be vulnerable to poor quality food. He therefore asked the vendors to fully grasp the opportunity of the training which will make them confident and competent in their business. 

Administrator Kohima Municipal Council, Lanusenla L. Peseyie also encouraged the vendors to be fully equipped with all the necessary information on food safety and hygiene practices and get the Food Safety Training & Certificate (FoSTaC) Certificate from this training, which is very important for the vendors to run their stalls.

Speaking on food safety aspect, Assistant Food Safety Commissioner, Sendong Jamir, highlighted on three practical points, which vendors must follow:- Vendor should be registered under FACCI and keep the registration paper in the stall, Vendors should serve the food items in proper utensils besides health hazard materials and Vendors should avoid re-use of oil, which is harmful for the health.

EAC Kohima, M.K. Jingru from the district administration also shared on the importance of food safety measures and maintenance of standard health hygiene.

Designated Officer of Kohima district, Peterson Ao, pointed out that the main objectives of the vendors was to maintain Good Management Practice (GMP), Good Health Practice (GHP) and also to maintain two bins (dry & wet) in the stall.

The inaugural programme was chaired by Surojit Mukherjee, Senior Manager-Branch Corporate Affairs, Nestle India Ltd. Other highlights of the programme included lighting of the lamp, unveiling of mannequin followed by training session and presentation of FoSTaC Certificate and Hygiene kits. Street Food vendors around the Kohima town attended the training.