With help of NASVI and FDA, the company has launched a training programme for street food vendors. VIKANT SAHAY met with the Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs of Nestle India, Sanjay Khajuria to understand what CSR activities has Nestle India undertaken lately
HERALD: What made Nestle think about participating in the Serve Safe Food Programme and Why?
SK: We have joined hands with The National Association of Street Food Vendors of India (NASVI) and the Food & Drugs Administration, Goa to educate street food vendors in Goa on Hygiene and Food Safety Practices as part of our ‘Nestlé in Society’ initiatives. Through this initiative, we aim to train about 1,000 street food vendors in Goa in the next few months. Our objective is to enable street vendors to increase their capacities to sustain their livelihoods and enter into strategic employment opportunities in new market conditions.
Street vending is a source of livelihood for a significant number of urban poor in the country and through this training we want to encourage them to use the relevant knowledge and expertise for conducting their businesses. Ensuring clean, wholesome and hygienic food for the public is of utmost importance today.
HERALD: Is it the first time (pilot project) in Goa/India? What are your plans to take it forward in Goa and in India?
SK: This is our first step in this direction and we hope to expand the programme in the future. We hope the training will encourage the micro and small food business operators to use the knowledge shared during the training in their everyday business.
HERALD: What help did you get and from which organisations to launch this programme? How many people are likely to benefit out of this initiative?
SK: We are working closely with Ministry of Health and Food & Drugs Administration, Goa who have provided guidance and support for this initiative.
We are very thankful to them. The training of street vendors will be conducted by NASVI and will comprise subjects such as health, hygiene, food handling, waste disposal and entrepreneurship.
They will begin training about 500 street vendors, expanding to about 1,000 in the coming months.
HERALD: Can you elaborate a bit about your Healthy Kids Programme?
SK: The Nestlé Healthy Kids Programme has been developed with a focus to raise nutrition and health awareness of school age children.
The unbranded programme has been conducted since 2009, in village schools around the factories of the company with the objective of raising awareness regarding good nutritional and cooking practices, good hygiene and promoting physical fitness.
The programme is conducted in partnership with six leading regional universities through the Department of Home Science/ Food Science.
The universities collect information on the nutrition status of the region and local food habits through their extension activities and the programme content is developed jointly with Nestlé India nutritionists.
