Uttarakhand has received the prize for being the best state in the category of states with mountainous terrain and geographical disparities, constituted by health and family welfare department on the culmination of ‘ Swastha Bharat Yatra’ in New Delhi on Tuesday. The yatra was organised by the department with slogan of ‘Eat Right India’.
The joint commissioner of food safety department and additional secretary health services, Yugal Kishore Pant received the prize on behalf of the state at a programme organised in New Delhi on Tuesday. The prize was presented by the Union minister of state for health and family welfare Ashwini Kumar Chaubey.
The chief executive officer (CEO) of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Pawan Agarwal was also present on the occasion.
Speaking over phone from Delhi, Pant termed the selection of Uttarakhand for the prize as a matter of great pride for the state and claimed that the morale of the officers of department of food safety would receive a boost. The state designated officer food safety, Rajendra Singh Rawat was also in Delhi to receive the award.
The Swastha Bharat Cycle Yatra which had commenced on October 16 last had covered a total of 20233 km and visited 2156 places. A total of 1629 volunteers had participated in the yatra to give a message for eating healthy food. The yatra had entered Uttarakhand on January 9 and after visiting many cities, had left the state on January 19. The people was given a message to eat healthy food items and keep a distance from oily, salty and stale food. The department also emphasised on avoiding junk food during the seminars and shows organised during the yatra.