ITC’s Sunrise Swasthya Pradesh, under CSR initiative Umang, on Saturday organised a Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) programme for over 100 street food vendors in Agartala. The initiative aims to strengthen grassroots sanitation practices and promote safe, compliant food-handling among vendors in the city. The training was conducted ahead of Tripura’s popular food and cultural festival, Petuk Somabesh 2025.
The one-day session was attended by Agartala Mayor Shri Dipak Majumder and Bishalagarh MLA Shri Sushanta Deb as chief guests, along with other dignitaries. The programme focused on educating vendors who will set up stalls at the festival, ensuring the food served adheres to hygiene and safety standards. The sessions translated food safety guidelines into practical steps vendors can follow during the festival and beyond.
In Agartala, street food remains central to the city’s informal economy and daily consumption habits. Food demand spikes during festival season, and vendors see rising sales. With more citizens conscious about hygiene, experts say the training will help vendors improve quality, retain customers and strengthen consumer trust, boosting the local street food market. Aligned with FSSAI’s FoSTaC framework, the key modules included personal hygiene, sanitation, waste management, safe handling and regulatory compliance. Demonstrations, food safety kits and on-ground audits reinforced learning. Mayor Majumder called street vendors “an integral part of Agartala’s food culture,” while MLA Deb said the initiative would support public health. ITC Spices Business Head Piyush Mishra stressed that food safety must remain at the heart of community food festivals.
