Srinagar, 03- March: The Traders from Ajas village of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Wednesday said that few unknown people posing themselves as members of some ‘Softek Institute of Information Technology’ are collecting money from shopkeepers on pretext of providing training and certificate in return.Gulzar Ahmad, a shopkeeper from Ajas told CNS that he was approached by three unknown perons, who identified themselves as members of Softek Institute of Information Technology, adsing that “the trio gave me a receipt and demanded Rs 500 saying that you will be provided a 4 hour training and a certificate in return.”He said that the ‘Softek’ trio told him in case the shopkeeper fails to get this registration for this training certification programme, he won’t be able renew his Food liscence received similar complaints from other shopkeepers of the area as well, who demanded a thorough understanding and clarification into the matter.Meanwhile, an official of the Softek Company while responding to queries told that they have collected Rs 500 for Food Safety Training and Certification (FOSTAC) that is an initiative by FSSAI whereby food safety trainings are conducted for people in the food business to maximise knowledge and awareness of food safety regulations and policies to ensure food safety and hygiene.He said that shopkeepers will be provided with a certificate too. “There is no ambiguity in the process,” he said.“We have registered almost all the traders of Bandipora market, only some are left, those too will be registered under the initiative,” he added.A designated official of Food Safety in the district while talking to admitted that FSSAI has authorized the Softek Institute with them and they are authorized for this certification programme.He, however, ruled out any compulsion in the process saying that the registration is wholly and solly on willingness of the shopkeeper. “If a shopkeeper is willing, he can go for registration, there is no compulsion in the process.”, adding if anyone files a complaint regarding compulsion by company for registration, that will be looked into.Commissioner of Food Safety & Controller, Drugs & Food Control Organisation, J&K, Shakeel-Ul-Rehman Rather told that private companies might be doing it on their on accord, adding that FSSAI Dehli looks after it.“We don’t have any links with these certification programmes. FSSAI New Dehli authorizes the private companies for these training programmes,” he said.“We have flouted tenders for training programmes, which haven’t finalized yet. Ourdepartment conduct training programmes separately,” he added. (CNS)
