NEW DELHI: Stating that it was not possible to impose a ban on consumption of soft drinks in schools across the Capital just on the basis of newspaper reports, Delhi Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely on Tuesday informed that he had written to the Union Health Ministry seeking an advice on the issue and the presence of pesticides in colas.

Mr. Lovely said the Education Department had already sent an advisory two years ago asking schools to desist from consumption of junk food and drinks. However, to impose a ban it is important that all formalities are completed and the advice of the Union Health Ministry had been sought for this purpose. "As soon as we get a clarification from the Ministry on what should be done in this case, we will lose no time in taking action. We are here to protect the interests of students and not any individual or company and if need be we will not hesitate to take corrective action,'' he asserted.

On the question that a number of other State Governments had also imposed a ban on consumption of colas in their schools, Mr. Lovely said the Delhi Government was not going to follow the hasty step taken by some States. "We will also consult the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) as well as the advisory committees on the issue. First let us get a clarification from the Union Government. There should be no haste in taking such an important decision. We have already indicated that if necessary, we will make the advisory on junk food consumption mandatory for all schools but let us wait for a final word from the Ministry,'' he remarked.

The Education Minister said as part of the effort to involve the non-government organisations in the educational and related activities and also ensure the welfare of lakhs of students, Mr. Lovely said it had been decided to undertake a check up of 12 lakh students studying in government schools in the Capital.

The allocation for this new health initiative, the first of its kind in the country, is being enhanced and NGOs will be actively associated in this colossal task that would ensure better health for students.

The health check up would also be complimenting the highly successful Yuva scheme launched by the Education Department as the schools will get a database of the health profile of the students. This would also help in ensuring that corrective measures are put in place in the upbringing of the child and advice the parents on the possible diet in order to remove the deficiencies detected during these check ups.

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