Latest news with #AmarjeetKaur
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Health dept seizes food samples, shuts stall after video sparks outrage
The Ludhiana health department on Friday seized food samples and halted the operations of a vendor whose video went viral on social media where he was seen dipping sealed plastic oil packets into hot oil for frying fritters. Officials say the vendor can't reopen his food stall until he meets all health and licensing norms. (HT Photo) The video, shared by food blogger Harry Uppal on Instagram, showed a vendor near Gill Chowk engaging in a highly unsafe cooking practice. In the video, the man is seen placing three to four sealed plastic pouches of refined oil directly into a boiling pan. As the heat softens and melts the plastic, the oil is released into the pan and used to fry the fritters. Later, the vendor is seen casually claiming that the method used to open the packets was 'easier' and 'safe', sparking widespread outrage online. Social media users quickly dubbed the food 'microplastics pakodas,' with many expressing serious concern over the potential health risks posed by microplastics and chemical leaching from melted plastic into food. Following public pressure, a team from the city's health department conducted an on-site inspection and seized samples of the gram flour batter, cooked fritters, and condiment (chutney) for laboratory testing. Health department officials also discovered that the vendor had been operating without a valid food safety licence. 'His food stall has been shut down and he has been barred from resuming business until he complies with all health and licensing regulations,' said a department official. 'He was completely unaware of food safety norms and the grave health implications of such a practice. We have issued a strict warning and conducted sensitisation on food hygiene, but operations will remain suspended until full compliance is achieved,' the official added. District health officer Dr Amarjeet Kaur said, 'This time, timely action was possible because the food blogger had clearly mentioned the vendor's exact location,' she said, urging food bloggers and content creators to tag the health department and provide accurate addresses when posting such content. 'This would help us act faster and more effectively,' she added.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Dairy diaries: Milk, paneer worst hit by adulteration, says dept
Ludhiana: Despite repeated drives and stern exhortations from authorities, quality of food being sold in the city remains questionable. More than 20% of food samples taken by the health department from January to June-end have failed tests. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Most of these are of milk and dairy products. According to the health department, of the 324 samples taken from January to June, reports of 299 have been received and 25 are pending. Data suggests that of the total samples, 158 were of milk and dairy products like ghee, paneer, curd, khoa, and lassi, whereas 166 were of other foods like masala, dals, fast food-related articles, dry fruit, sweets, etc. A total of 62 of the 299 samples for which the health department received reports, failed. Of 158 milk and dairy product samples, 48 failed tests. Of 166 other food articles, samples of 14 failed. Among dairy products, 28 out of 76 samples of paneer, collected from January to the end of June, failed. Seven out of 11 samples of curd also failed. Of the 34 samples of milk, eight failed. Speaking to TOI, district health officer (DHO), Dr Amarjeet Kaur, said that they had increased sampling in view of the ongoing monsoon season and the upcoming festival season. She added that drives were being carried out to ensure that people consumed clean and safe food. When asked about action taken in case of failed food samples, the officer said that if unhygienic conditions were found at the place where food was prepared, served, or stored, challan was issued to the vendor on the spot. If the food sample taken was found to be substandard, the department filed a case in the court of the ADC (additional deputy commissioner), after which a fine was imposed. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now If the food sample was found to be dangerous for consumption, the department filed a case in the court of the CJM (chief judicial magistrate) and punitive action was taken. The DHO said that in 35 cases decided by the ADC court from September to the end of June, a fine of Rs 10 lakh was imposed on vendors. She added that they had filed two cases in the CJM court, and 10 more were in the pipeline. Health officials warned vendors against storing or selling adulterated food articles and said that legal action would be taken against defaulters. Testing milk at home Yogesh Goyal, food safety officer in Ludhiana, shared a quick method to detect water adulteration in milk. He explained that placing a spoonful of milk on a plate and tilting it can reveal its purity. If the milk leaves a visible trail or imprint, it is likely pure and contains the proper fat composition. If no line is left behind, the milk may be adulterated with water. For other types of adulteration, Goyal said the department's mobile food testing van operates across Ludhiana 25 days each month, offering doorstep milk testing for just Rs 50. Additionally, agencies like Gadvasu, PAU, and the dairy development board (DDB) have developed affordable testing kits priced at Rs 100, which can be used for up to 10 tests. Box 2: Staff, infra crunch A health department official, asking not to be named, said that food safety teams have only one vehicle for six zones of the district. Therefore, they said, they can carry out raids at only one place. Sources said that there are four food safety officers in the district, of whom one is deputed from outside. They emphasised the need to increase the number by two. Box 3: Report in 14 days An official said that since September last year to July end, the department filed 69 cases in the ADC court, and 15 unhygienic challans were issued. He added that after a sample was taken, it was sent to the food safety laboratory in Kharar, from where a report was normally received in 14 days. In special cases, the department receives the report in 24 hours. MSID:: 123022056 413 |
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Time of India
Police, Glada demolish woman drug peddler's house
Times News Network Ludhiana: Police and officials of Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (Glada) demolished the house of a woman drug peddler from Malakpur village. The woman is currently lodged in jail. According to the police, she grabbed the land fraudulently and constructed a house on it illegally. The woman, Amarjeet Kaur, has six FIRs of drug peddling and liquor smuggling lodged against her. She was convicted in three cases, including one case of drug peddling and two cases of liquor smuggling. She was acquitted in one case. Deputy commissioner of police (DCP-investigation) Harpal Singh said that Amarjeet Kaur, fraudulently grabbed land which belonged to Paramjit Sharma of Haibowal. She paid Rs 50,000 advance to Sharma, while Rs 1.50 lakh was yet to be paid. However, she allegedly took possession of the land forcibly and constructed a house on 50 square yards. Sharma has moved several complaints to the police and Glada in this regard. The DCP said that the illegally constructed house was demolished on Friday. MSID:: 122907488 413 |
Economic Times
09-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Bharat Bandh Alert: Over 25 crore workers to strike on Wednesday; Banks, transport, post offices and more sectors likely to be hit nationwide
Synopsis Over 25 crore Indian workers are set to strike nationwide on Wednesday, protesting the government's pro-corporate policies. Key sectors like banking, mining, and transport are expected to face disruptions as unions voice concerns over labor rights, privatization, and wage stagnation. Farmers and rural workers are also joining, amplifying the strike's impact against economic policies. Public services likely to hit as over 25 crore workers set to go on nationwide strike on Wednesday On Wednesday, more than 25 crore workers across India are expected to go on a nationwide general strike, or Bharat Bandh, in protest against what they call the government's 'anti-worker, anti-farmer, and pro-corporate policies.'The strike has been called by a forum of 10 central trade unions and their associates, and is likely to disrupt services in key sectors such as banking, insurance, postal, coal mining, highways, construction, and even state transport across various states. The unions say that the government is ignoring workers' concerns while pushing policies that benefit a statement, the union forum said preparations are already underway across formal and informal sectors. 'More than 25 crore workers are expected to join. Farmers and rural workers will also support the protest,' said Amarjeet Kaur from the All India Trade Union to Harbhajan Singh Sidhu of Hind Mazdoor Sabha, the strike will likely affect: Banking and financial services Postal departments Coal mines and factories State transport Public sector enterprises Unions from NMDC Ltd, steel sector, non-coal minerals, and various state government departments have also announced their protesting unions say they had earlier submitted a 17-point demand charter to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, but no meaningful action has accuse the government of: Not conducting the annual labour conference for 10 years Trying to weaken trade unions through new labour codes Increasing working hours and reducing workers' rights Promoting privatisation and contractual jobs Ignoring demands for more recruitments and better wages Offering benefits to employers under ELI (Employment Linked Incentive) schemes, instead of solving youth unemployment The Samyukta Kisan Morcha and agricultural workers' unions are backing the strike. They plan to mobilise support in rural areas and raise voices against the government's economic decisions which, they say, are worsening unemployment, increasing prices, and reducing social welfare unions have carried out similar nationwide strikes in the past: November 26, 2020 March 28-29, 2022 February 16, 2023 This upcoming strike on Wednesday could be one of the largest yet, both in numbers and the day approaches, disruptions across essential services are likely, and the protest could become a major moment in the ongoing debate over labour rights, job creation, and economic justice in India. Inputs from PTI
New Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Bharat bandh: Unions protest Modi government's anti-worker policies
NEW DELHI: Day to day life in several states across the country was disrupted due to closure of public offices as well as blockage of roads and railways during the nationwide general strike -- Bharat bandh -- called by ten trade unions spearheaded by the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC). The bandh was observed in Puducherry, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Kerala, West Bengal, Odisha, Karnataka, Goa, Meghalaya and Manipur. A partial strike was observed in Rajasthan, Haryana, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Industrial and sector-specific strikes were organised Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Gujarat. General Secretary of AITUC, Amarjeet Kaur, told TNIE, "We expected participation from roughly 25 crore workers. The response has been overwhelming with a much higher number taking part both from the formal and informal sectors." She added, "People are upset due to multiple issues including high price rise and loss of jobs and empathised with us completely. This has made us determined to go ahead with our next course of action which will be much bigger and in association with farmer organisations." Workers and the police clashed in a few places in Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu, with some protestors taken into preventive custody for a few hours and released. "The rank and file of Samyukt Kisan Morcha and joint front of Agricultural Labour Unions played significant role in the mobilisation in rural India," said a joint statement released by the participating Unions (list of unions at the end). Worker unions in Coal, NMDC, iron-ore, Copper, Bauxite and Aluminium, Steel and Gold mines also took part. Employees in Banks, LIC, GIC, Petroleum, Electricity, Post offices, Grameen Dak Sevaks, Telecom, Atomic Energy, Cement, Port & Dock Tea plantations and Jute Mills protested.
