Diabetic food for railway passengers

Soon diabetics need not carry their own food any longer while travelling long distance on Indian Railways.

The railways authorities are planning to introduce special diet for such passengers. Apart from mail meals, diabetics would also be given the option of choosing tailor made snacks.

“Thousands of people in India are suffering from diabetes and the number is increasing everyday. We have recommended that special diet be offered to diabetes patients travelling on trains,” said Abu Ayesh Mondol, former member of Parliament and currently a member on the Passenger Services Committee (PSC).

India is reckoned to be the diabetes capital of the world with an estimated population of 50.8 million diabetics, more than the entire population of Spain.

The PSC is a seven-member committee set up by railways minister Mamata Banerjee, 54, in July 2009 soon after taking charge. It is headed by Trinamool Congress leader quizmaster Derek O’ Brien and looks after catering and hospitality services of the railways and recommends measures to upgrade it.

“The recommendations made by the PSC members were discussed in the committee’s meeting. Though it is yet to be sent to the Railway Board for sanction we are pursuing it,” said Mondol who visited Howrah Station in Kolkata on Tuesday.

Once the proposal is cleared by the board, passengers booking tickets on trains like Rajdhani and Duronto Express can mention their choice in the reservation slip, as the cost of food is included in the fare.

On other trains diabetics can buy special diet during the ride.