The President of State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR), Yogendra Khanduri has expressed concern over sale of junk food near the educational institutes and ordered immediate ban on its sale within 200 meter periphery of schools and colleges of the state.
In an order directed to the Chief Secretary (CS), the President of SCPCR said that the consumption of junk food not only increases the chances of obesity in children but also is a cause of diseases like cancer, diabetes, hypertension and high Blood Pressure (BP).
He said that recently the union ministry of Women and child development had constituted a committee headed by the Hyderabad based National Institute of Nutrition.
This committee had advocated a complete ban on sale of junk food near the schools and colleges.
Khanduri added that the Food Safety and Standards Authority had also recommended such a ban and in many states like Maharashtra the ban is followed.
Asking the CS to ensure ban on sale of junk food near schools the President of SCPCYR has said that the commission should be informed about the compliance.