Jayani raids Secretariat canteens

Punjab Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jayani on Monday raided the canteens of Civil Secretariat here and expressed concern over lack of cleanliness and hygiene in all the three canteens serving food and snacks to thousands of employees and visitors daily.Jayani, on receiving complaints regarding the unclean surroundings in the civil secretariat canteens, reached unannounced at the 10th floor canteen where people were having lunch.

He was appalled at unclean surroundings especially in the chapatti making section and vegetables being cooked in old utensils, an official spokesman said.

Jayani was not satisfied with the old plates in which employees were being served food. He had lunch with employees and expressed satisfaction over taste of food.

The Minister issued direction that food inspectors would regularly take the samples of all the raw material and cooked food of all the canteens and submit him weekly report in this regard.Asking the canteen staff to improve hygiene, cleanliness and surroundings in all the three canteens, Jayani said that the canteens of secretariat should be a telling example of cleanliness for whole state.He said that he would again inspect these canteens as he wants these canteens to be showcased as shining example of Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan.