Ban sale of junk food in schools: Rights panel

Dehradun, August 9

The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) has asked the government to impose a ban on the sale and serving of junk food in school canteens and around 200 meter area of the schools.

The commission has taken suo moto note of a report prepared by a committee set up by the Ministry of Woman and Child Development, which said the children were falling prey to malnutrition due to the consumption of junk food.

“We have taken serious note of the report and have asked the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand to issue ban orders with immediate effect,” said Yogender Khanduri, Chairman, SCPCR.

Significantly, the Ministry of Woman and Child Development had set up a committee to look into the issues related to growing problems of obesity in children and its relationship with consumption of junk food. — TNS