Patna: Bihar ranks the lowest among major countries in ensuring food security in 2020-21, according to the security authority and food standards of India (FSSAI) released by the Ministry of Health and the welfare of the Union Family.
The overall score of the country is 35 while Gujarat topped with 75 points.
The third edition of the State Food Security Index ranks the countries on five food security parameters, which includes human resources and institutional data (unity of 20%), compliance (30%), food testing facilities (20%), training and development Capacity (10%) and Consumer Empowerment (20%).
Ranking is an effort of the union government to give states to ensure safe food for citizens.
The state has secured only 5 points each in human resources and institutional data and food testing facilities, 2 in training and capacity building, 11 Compliance and 12 in consumer empowerment.
Separate experts for food and professional food & nutrition testing, in addition to FSSAI officials, conducting an assessment and evaluation in each category.
The team checks the details received and also interacts with the state / UTS through web meetings.
Kashyap Mukesh, Food Security Inspector Bihar, told this newspaper on Tuesday that there was an acute shortage of labor in the State Food Security Unit.
“There are only 14 food security officers (FSOs) in the state and some of them have to maintain a maximum of four districts at a time.
The minimum of two districts has been allocated to each of them to be examined to ensure food quality.
Because of lack of labor, The overall marking is bad in the food security index, “he said.
“Lack of labor, however, will be resolved as soon as we have taken approval for 105 FSO posts from the state government and all empty posts will be filled within 3-4 months.
After this problem is resolved, we will work to ensure healthy food for residents We are through our daily inspection.
Because there are no separate state food security commissioners, we are also left behind in several parameters.
No officer is fully appointed in the food security unit, “Kashyap said.