Canteen policy

Subhash Chand, Nausori

Best to my knowledge, canteen owners come from humble backgrounds. They work hard to serve the students and staff members for a few dollars to keep their families going. They are not getting enough salary or wages. Here is a list by our Education Minister Mahendra Reddy, on food and beverages which are prohibited in school canteens:

1. Deep fried foods like bhajia, bhara, gulgula doughnut

2. Pastry based-sausage rolls, crumbed/batterd hot foods like fish and chips

3. Savoury snack food-crisps, chips and biscuits

4. Ice-cream and ice confections-chocolate coated and ice-cream, ice block, sun pops

5. Cakes, muffins, sweet pastries, slices

6. Sweets - lollies, chocolates, jelly beans or other form of confectionery

7. Home-made sweets-barfi, jalebi, gulab jamun, toffee, fudge

8. Tamarind lollies and chutney with peas (fried or boiled)

9. Chinese lollies and skins, mango skin powder

10.Processed salted and cheese snacks 11.Uncooked noodles

12. Sugar- sweetened drinks that include fruit flavoured drinks, sports drink and cordials.

13. Biscuits

14. Fizzy drinks

15. Chewing gum And all under this category are not limited to the above. Does it mean, close the canteen? Canteen owners, is it time to apply for social welfare assistance?