Bhubaneswar Mayor Takes Swift Action Against Stale Food at Old Age Home
In a shocking revelation during a surprise inspection, Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das discovered that an old age home in the city was serving stale food to its elderly residents. The incident, which occurred on Friday, has sparked outrage and prompted immediate directives for action against the operator.
Mayor's Furious Response to Negligence
During the inspection, Mayor Das found that the operator had been serving food cooked a day earlier and stored in a refrigerator to the inmates. Visibly furious, she condemned the practice as unacceptable and inhuman, emphasizing the vulnerability of the elderly residents. "Such negligence towards vulnerable elderly people is completely unacceptable," she stated, highlighting the severe health risks involved.
The operator attempted to justify the action by citing inadequate government funding, claiming they receive only Rs 23 per meal for lunch and dinner, with no allocation for breakfast. However, the mayor firmly rejected this justification, asserting that financial constraints do not excuse compromising on food quality and safety.
Strict Directives and Broader Food Safety Drive
In response, Mayor Das issued a stern warning to the operator, saying, "If you can’t serve proper meal, then don’t serve at all. But don’t harm people’s health by feeding them stale food." Videos from the inspection, which quickly surfaced on social media platforms, show her directing officials to ensure strict adherence to food quality standards for all operators responsible for vulnerable groups.
This incident is part of a larger food safety initiative by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), which has intensified inspections across the city. In the past month, the BMC's food safety wing has:
- Dumped approximately 100kg of stale and unhygienic food from 17 locations.
- Imposed fines totaling Rs 15,000 on hotels, eateries, and fast-food vendors.
- Checked over 200 stalls and restaurants, addressing practices like storing leftover food overnight and mixing it with fresh batches, which can lead to diarrhoea and other food-borne illnesses.
The mayor's actions underscore a commitment to protecting public health, particularly for the elderly, and signal a zero-tolerance policy towards food safety violations in Bhubaneswar.
