UGC Directives: PU yet to outline strategy for UGC’s healthy food directive | Chandigarh News

Chandigarh: Panjab University (PU) and UT colleges are yet to develop a blueprint for implementing UGC directives prohibiting sales of unhealthy foods and promoting healthier options in canteens across higher education institutions (HEIs). However, the director higher education is planning to take up the matter for implementation in colleges in a meeting scheduled for July 19.
“Good health is a fundamental privilege for humanity. India is grappling with a rapid surge in diseases, with 1 in 4 people being either obese or diabetic/pre-diabetic, as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) report 2020-2023,” stated the UGC in its circular issued on July 15, 2024. The circular further elaborated, “As you are aware, National Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPI) is a national think tank on nutrition, comprising independent experts in epidemiology, human nutrition, community nutrition, paediatrics, medical education, administration, social work, and management. Alarmed by the escalating obesity, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), to build a case for expedited implementation of the national multi-sectoral plan of action (NMAP) for prevention and control of common NCDs (2017-2022), the NAPI has requested to proscribe the sale of unhealthy foods in educational institutions and promote healthy food options in canteens.”
It also referred to previous circulars, stating, “As you are aware, the UGC has already issued advisories on similar subjects vide its letters dated November 10, 2016, and August 21, 2018. In continuation of the above, the higher education institutions (HEIs) are once again requested to implement the prohibition of sales of unhealthy foods in educational institutions and promote healthy food options in canteens to effectively curb the ongoing epidemic of NCDs by reducing the consumption of unhealthy ultra-processed or HFSS foods.”
However, when the TOI correspondent attempted to ascertain the implementation of previous circulars, it was revealed that Panjab University could not implement the 2018 circular due to vehement opposition from the student council parties back then, asserting their right to choose their food out of the free will.
On July 18 as well, samosas were one of the top and inexpensive choices for students, among other things. The dean of student welfare said, “We are committed to adhering to UGC instructions, but keeping the past experiences in mind, I have contemplated calling a meeting of all student parties and groups to discuss this and subsequently plan a blueprint for implementing this. We are all in for student health.”
Meanwhile, director of higher education Rubinderjit Singh Brar said, “We have various arts and science colleges, and with the new session underway, the tender process for canteens is also in progress at many places. We have a meeting with college principals scheduled for Friday where we will certainly raise this issue and aim to devise a strategy accordingly.”
Meanwhile, Deepak Goyat, current general secretary of the student council at PU, said, “While these UGC guidelines may seem like a progressive move, the availability of alternatives such as various food delivery companies might not fully achieve the intended purpose and could potentially increase costs for students. I suggest conducting more yoga and awareness sessions on such topics to foster genuine health consciousness among students, as being health conscious is ultimately a personal choice.”

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