Uttar Pradesh has implemented a new mandate requiring all eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display QR code stickers linked to the Food Safety CONNECT App. This initiative, launched ahead of the annual pilgrimage, aims to enhance food safety, transparency, and accountability for the millions of expected devotees. However, the move has drawn criticism, with some viewing it as a continuation of past controversial directives and a potential tool for religious profiling.
Key Takeaways
- All eateries on the Kanwar Yatra route must display QR code stickers linked to the Food Safety CONNECT App.
- Scanning the QR code provides owner details, registration, address, and menu.
- The government claims the initiative promotes hygiene and transparency.
- Critics allege it facilitates religious profiling and targets minority vendors, drawing parallels to previous ‘nameplate diktats’.
- A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on such directives.
Food Safety Drive Amidst Pilgrimage Preparations
As the Kanwar Yatra commences with the holy month of Shravan, the Uttar Pradesh government has intensified its food safety and cleanliness campaign. The mandatory QR code stickers are part of a broader digital reform aimed at ensuring hygiene and accountability for the estimated four crore pilgrims. Teams are affixing these stickers on all food establishments, from high-end restaurants to roadside stalls. The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has also directed vendors to display rate lists and maintain high standards of cleanliness, with inspections leading to the destruction of expired products and uncovered juices in key districts.
Controversy and Allegations of Profiling
Despite the government’s emphasis on hygiene and transparency, the QR code mandate has sparked significant criticism. Many eatery owners perceive it as an "official version of the nameplate diktat," referencing a controversial order from the previous year that required shop owners along the Kanwar route to display their names and phone numbers. Critics, including opposition leaders and activists, argue that the directive to display owner details, including registration and address, could facilitate religious profiling and unfairly target Muslim vendors. Concerns have been raised that this could enable groups to identify and harass businesses belonging to minority communities, echoing past incidents.
A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on directives that mandate or facilitate the public disclosure of food vendor identities, arguing that such requirements violate privacy rights and previous court orders. While the government maintains that the initiative is solely about food safety and transparency, critics contend that it is a "camouflage order" that enables religious discrimination.
Inter-State Coordination and Security Measures
To ensure the smooth and safe conduct of the Kanwar Yatra, senior officials from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, and Uttarakhand convened a high-level meeting. The discussions focused on crowd management, law and order, and pilgrim convenience. Detailed action plans were finalized, including continuous drone surveillance, a revised traffic management plan with dedicated lanes for pilgrims, and the deployment of senior police officers along the route. Additionally, a WhatsApp group has been formed for real-time communication and coordination among the participating states. The government has also emphasized that only pure vegetarian food should be available along the pilgrimage route and has directed departments to address potential shortcomings to prevent any mishaps.
Sources
- UP makes QR code stickers mandatory for eateries, steps up food safety drive ahead of Kanwar Yatra, The New Indian Express.
- Ahead of Kanwar Yatra, UP makes QR code stickers mandatory for eateries, Madhyamam.
- Is UP’s QR code mandate in eateries during Kanwar Yatra a move to target Muslim vendors?, Maktoob Media.
