By TC News Desk
Agartala, 20th May 2025: Aiming to ensure public health and food safety, Agartala Smart City and the National Health Mission (NHM) jointly organized a health check-up and food safety awareness camp for temporary food vendors at Sukanta Academy. This is the first time such a dedicated initiative has been launched for street food vendors in the city.
The program was inaugurated by the Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) Dipak Majumdar in the presence of Deputy Mayor Manika Das Datta, CEO of Agartala Smart City Dr. Shailesh Kumar Yadav and Mayor-in-Council members.
Addressing the gathering, Mayor Majumdar emphasized, “Street vendors serve thousands of citizens every day. Ensuring their health and food hygiene is not just essential, it’s a responsibility. If a vendor carries any communicable disease and proper precautions are not taken, there is a risk of transmission to customers.”
According to official records, Agartala currently has 3,100 registered street vendors. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed that licenses be issued to 10,000 street vendors across Tripura. The mayor noted that many of these vendors serve food from morning till night, making regular health screening vital for public safety.
“As Agartala evolves under the Smart City initiative, we are also considering structured time slots for street vendors to maintain city order,” added the Mayor. He further mentioned that all vending units must be mobile, ensuring smooth pedestrian movement and minimizing obstruction.
Participants at the camp were educated about government food safety guidelines and regulations. The event also addressed growing public concerns about rampant food adulteration and hygiene violations by some vendors and small eateries. Residents have frequently complained on social media about substandard ingredients, stale food, and the widespread use of harmful oils and spices.
Despite repeated alerts, there has been minimal enforcement action, causing widespread concern among city dwellers. “We are often left with no choice but to eat out, but we’re scared of falling sick. The quality of food in some places is so bad, it feels like we’re being poisoned,” said a local resident who attended the event.
