Tech-driven social audit to ensure food quality

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Department of Social Welfare in Karnataka has launched a pioneering technology-driven 'social audit system’, marking a first in the nation, aimed at overseeing and enhancing the quality of food provided in government-run student hostels. The initiative seeks to improve transparency and promote better nutritional standards for students residing in hostels. Government-run hostels have frequently been scrutinised regarding the quality of food provided. To address these issues, the department has launched the Food Transparency and Social Audit Project, which has begun to yield encouraging outcomes.

The department intends to extend this initiative to all 31 districts of Karnataka within the upcoming month. Under the programme, teachers and hostel wardens are required to post photographs of the meals served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter).

These submissions will be evaluated by officials from the Social Welfare Department, who will examine the menu, hygiene, and overall quality of the meals. Districts will be ranked based on these, and prompt directives will be issued to address any identified deficiencies. Stringent measures will be enforced against any negligence, thereby ensuring accountability at every level. Public engagement constitutes an essential aspect of the initiative, allowing citizens to access and respond to the posts, with their feedback taken into account by the department.