<p>With an eye on wooing voters with school-going children, the Delhi BJP on Thursday raised concerns over junk food served to kids in their institutions’ canteen.<br /><br />Demanding healthy food for school children and promotion of a healthy lifestyle among them, Delhi BJP chief Harsh Vardhan urged Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to issue orders to ban junk food in government and private schools.<br /><br />“To save lakhs of students from health hazards, the LG should issue directions to ban sale of junk food in school,” said the BJP leader.</p>.<p><br />In some schools, the principals and members of the management committee were aware of the violations of the government guidelines taking place in their institutions, he said.<br />“They themselves promote sale of deep fried food items like samosas, chole bhatoore, canned food, chips, pizza, burger and French fries,” said Harsh Vardhan, a former Delhi health minister.<br /><br />Sympathising with helpless children, the BJP leader said the kids were unaware of the food items they should not eat.<br /><br />“Canteen operators in schools are driven by the objective of making maximum profit. Serving healthy food to children is not their priority,” said the BJP leader.<br /><br />He said the smanagement should he held accountable for any violation of the guidelines against sale of junk foods.<br /><br />“In countries like Australia, Singapore and Canada, food safety in schools is considered a social responsibility. It is high time for Indian schools to also emulate their example and prevent consumption or sale of junk food by students in canteens,” he said.<br /><br />Harsh Vardhan said a committee tasked by the Delhi High Court to prepare a list of healthy food for sale through canteens should ensure that its report gives healthy alternatives to students.<br /><br />The BJP urged the Lieutenant Governor to issue orders restricting sale of unhealthy food articles on the premises of these institutions.</p>
<p>With an eye on wooing voters with school-going children, the Delhi BJP on Thursday raised concerns over junk food served to kids in their institutions’ canteen.<br /><br />Demanding healthy food for school children and promotion of a healthy lifestyle among them, Delhi BJP chief Harsh Vardhan urged Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to issue orders to ban junk food in government and private schools.<br /><br />“To save lakhs of students from health hazards, the LG should issue directions to ban sale of junk food in school,” said the BJP leader.</p>.<p><br />In some schools, the principals and members of the management committee were aware of the violations of the government guidelines taking place in their institutions, he said.<br />“They themselves promote sale of deep fried food items like samosas, chole bhatoore, canned food, chips, pizza, burger and French fries,” said Harsh Vardhan, a former Delhi health minister.<br /><br />Sympathising with helpless children, the BJP leader said the kids were unaware of the food items they should not eat.<br /><br />“Canteen operators in schools are driven by the objective of making maximum profit. Serving healthy food to children is not their priority,” said the BJP leader.<br /><br />He said the smanagement should he held accountable for any violation of the guidelines against sale of junk foods.<br /><br />“In countries like Australia, Singapore and Canada, food safety in schools is considered a social responsibility. It is high time for Indian schools to also emulate their example and prevent consumption or sale of junk food by students in canteens,” he said.<br /><br />Harsh Vardhan said a committee tasked by the Delhi High Court to prepare a list of healthy food for sale through canteens should ensure that its report gives healthy alternatives to students.<br /><br />The BJP urged the Lieutenant Governor to issue orders restricting sale of unhealthy food articles on the premises of these institutions.</p>