Lok Sabha: RJD submits adjournment motion over deteriorating quality of Railway food

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Leader Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav on Wednesday submitted an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha, over the poor quality of food being served by the Indian Railways.

In his notice, Yadav wrote that the recent CAG report highlighted the failure of the government.

He also mentioned that there is an immediate need to discuss about the Railway food quality in the Parliament.

Earlier today, a lizard was found in a meal served on the Poorva Express.

The DRM and other officials took cognizance of the issue, inquired about the health of the passenger and provided him with medicines.

The passenger has filed a complaint with the Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu through Twitter.

The passenger told the media that he was provided the medication really late.

"The thing which I regret the most is that I was given medicines really late. I was not given any medication for about four hours", he said.

The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Danapur division Kishor Kumar condemned the incident and assured a detailed enquiry in the matter.

"It is a very unfortunate incident. A detailed enquiry would be conducted in the case and necessary action would be taken", Kumar said.

Last week, a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General ( CAG) revealed that unpurified water was being used to make beverages, rats and cockroaches were found in the pantry and food was being left out in the open among a number of other things.

Following which, the Ministry of Railways established the fact that the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has been mandated to carry out the unbundling by creating a distinction primarily between food preparation and food distribution.

The New Catering policy, which was issued on 27 February, also states that IRCTC is responsible for all issues pertaining to setting up and operation of kitchen units and quality of food.

The ministry said as per the new catering policy of 2017, the IRCTC will manage the services on all mobile units and pantry car contracts will be reassigned to the railways' catering arm.

In addition to it, the policy also stated that all the food has to be picked up from IRCTC kitchen units only.