Street Food Vendors Must Obtain Licenses or Face Action, Says Administration in Jagdalpur

The initiative, announced by the district administration in Bastar, includes a series of training and registration camps beginning February 23 across all development blocks. The program will cover street food vendors as well as cooks working under the midday meal scheme. Authorities said the objective is to improve hygiene, food handling practices, and public health safeguards.

According to the Food and Drug Administration department’s deputy director, the campaign will provide practical guidance on cleanliness, storage, preparation, and serving standards. Participants will also be able to complete registration and licensing formalities on site. Officials stressed that the move aims to raise food quality benchmarks while ensuring vendors understand compliance requirements.

The first session will be held on February 23 in Jagdalpur block at Swami Atmanand Excellent English Medium School and the Bastar Chamber of Commerce building. Attendance has been made compulsory for local street food vendors on that date. Subsequent sessions will be conducted in other blocks through early March, with training scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon and licensing camps from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Officials clarified that all food establishments—including grocery shops, hotels, restaurants, roadside eateries, canteens, tea stalls, and ready-to-eat food units—must hold valid licenses or registrations. Inspections will follow the training phase, and violations could result in fines or further legal measures.

Applicants attending the camps must bring identity and address proof, including Aadhaar and PAN cards, electricity bills, rental agreements, and passport-size photographs. Self-help groups running midday meal kitchens must also submit documents of their office bearers along with a gram sabha resolution or departmental authorization.

The administration urged vendors to cooperate with the initiative, stating that compliance will help maintain public trust and ensure safer food for consumers across the district.