1. Gujarat Government to Ban Sale of Junk Food in and Around Schools
The Gujarat government is in the process of banning sale of junk food in schools as well as in the 50-meter area around them to encourage consumption of healthy food among children.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recommended a ban on sale of food high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) in schools and the state government is in the process of framing draft rules for the same.
To promote healthy food eating habits among children, a ban has to be imposed on sale of food with high fat, sugar and salt in school canteens as well as in the 50-meter area around schools.
"That means junk food items cannot be sold in and around schools of the state,” Commissioner of Food Safety and Food and Drug Control Administration HG Koshia said.
Advertisements of junk food will also not be allowed in and around schools, he said, adding that FSSAI, India's regulator for the food industry, has recommended a ban on sale of junk food in schools.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
2. 4.3 Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Parts of Kutch District
An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 jolted parts of Kutch district of Gujarat on Monday evening, 18 November, but there was no report of any casualty or damage to property, officials said.
The earthquake of 4.3 magnitude was recorded at 7:01 p.m. with its epicentre 23km NNE (north-north-east) of Bhachau in Kutch district, an official of the Gandhinagar-based Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) said. This comes hours after another mild quake in the same district, around 340km from Ahmedabad.
The district administration said no report has been received so far about any damage to property or loss of life due to the quake.
(Source: The Hindu)
3. Parents Move HC to Get Daughters out of Godman's Institute
A couple moved the Gujarat High Court on Monday, 18 November, seeking custody of their two daughters who are being allegedly held in illegal confinement at an institution run by self-styled godman Swami Nithyananda here.
Petitioners Janardana Sharma and his wife told the court they had admitted their four daughters to an educational institution run by Swami Nithyananda in Bengaluru in 2013 when they were in the age group of 7-15 years.
When they learnt that their daughters were this year shifted to another branch of Nithyananda Dhyanpeetham, named Yogini Sarvagyapeetham, situated on the premises of Delhi Public School in Ahmedabad, they tried to meet them.
However, officials of the institute refused to let them meet their daughters, the petitioners alleged.
(Source: Business Standard)
4.Ex-IAS Officer to Probe Misconduct Charges Against Bureaucrat
The Gujarat government on Monday, 18 November, appointed retired IAS officer VS Gadhavi to inquire into allegations of misconduct against suspended IAS officer Gaurav Dahiya, an official said.
Gadhavi will inquire whether allegations against Dahiya, earlier probed by a government-appointed committee, were true and what action needs to be taken in the matter.
The ex-IAS officer has been appointed as the inquiry officer as part of departmental process to investigate whether the allegations of misconduct against Dahiya probed by the committee are true, Principal Secretary (Personnel) Kamal Dayani said.
The state government-appointed panel, in its preliminary report, had found Dahiya guilty of misconduct, sources said. Gadhavi had served as the states chief information commissioner before retirement from serivce.
(Source: PTI)
5. Overhead Water Tank Collapses in Ahmedabad; None Hurt
An overhead water tank collapsed on Monday afternoon while it was being demolished by workers in Gota locality of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, officials said.
Fortunately, nobody was injured in the mishap which occurred around 1:10 pm.
"The dilapidated water tank was being demolished when it fell down suddenly. Nobody was injured in the incident though two nearby houses were damaged partially and the rubble pile blocked the access road," said Additional Chief Fire Officer Rajesh Bhatt, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).
He said fire personnel armed with heavy machinery are clearing the debris that have blocked the access road to the houses on priority.
(Source: The Times of India)
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