The volunteers persistent complaints about stale food being served to them has finally got the Delhi government taking charge of serving good quality food to them. This comes after two caterers failed to deliver the quality and quantity required at such magnitude on a daily basis. The volunteers have been complaining that the food served to them did not taste good and even had a stale smell. Earlier, even the doctors across the Games venues were up in arms against bad quality food.
After the initial caterer Agarwal Food Products failed to deliver, it was decided to rope in six caterers, including Nirulas and Bikanerwala. But things did not improve.
So far, there have been several complaints of packets of stale food being supplied to those deployed for assisting athletes and officials and the police and paramilitary personnel providing security at the venues. For security reasons no food packets or tiffin boxes are allowed inside the venues and the Organising Committee had been getting food packets from some private suppliers. But two contractors have been changed so far yet the complaints about food packets being stale and insufficient continue. In view of the several complaints being recieved each day from volunteers and policemen, the Delhi government has decided to take the supply of food packets into its own hands. “We are looking in to the complaints. The government will provide the food to the volunteers now. No agency would be involved,” said Dr Kiran Walia, health minister, Delhi government.
Meanwhile, the volunteers for the Commonwealth Games are having a tough time serving the athletes, officials and managing the general public with sub-standard food being supplied to them.
Volunteers at the Yamuna Sports Complex, venue for the archery competitions, have been complaining that the food packets they are getting are not worth consumption and in some cases, quantity is also a problem.
“Flies were found in some food packets,” said a YSC volunteer.