Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 24
Health services and good governance—oft heard phrases during the election have yet again been delegated to bureaucratic tedium. A month into the political promises, they seem to be crumbling.
It has been almost a week since the detection of adulterants in DIMUL toned milk was made public. The silence of the government on the sample tests, the detection of adulterants (including chemical traces), and the subsequent disclosure of the findings speaks volumes of the government’s concern for its citizens. Neither DIMUL nor the Veterinary Department, nor the Health Department and the Health Minister, have given an open explanation on the issue.
The Commissioner & Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Sentiyanger Imchen when queried on the department’s stance, acknowledged the health concerns that arise; however said the Health department cannot do anything for it does not deal with dairy processing. He further said that unless there is an official intimation from the Veterinary department it cannot act on its own.
Veterinary officials, on their part, contend that the department’s duty is health of animals and not produce of animals.
A Health Department official, who wished to remain anonymous, said that it is duty of the department to direct its Food Safety Cell to act on such matters. The official said that DIMUL might be an independent unit but on matters of public health, the Health department must take the initiative.
To date, the Health department’s Food Safety wing has not received any official intimation from the departmental higher ups to check on the matter.
However, it appears the various departments are confused over their respective jurisdictional limits. DIMUL is an independent cooperative society.
The other reason reportedly preventing the authorities from intervening is the argument that the tests were ‘unofficial’, thus inadmissible; notwithstanding the matter concerns public health. The test kit used, meanwhile, was developed by a company with sanction from the Government of India. In any place, other than Nagaland, such disclosure concerning food safety could have roused authorities from slumber, yet here, it is just the opposite with the informed populace also preferring to sit by and watch.
