Karnataka pioneers transparent hostel food checks

CH Bureau@Mysuru

The Department of Social Welfare, Government of Karnataka, has become the first in the country to implement a digital system that monitors the food served to students in SC/ST hostels run by the state. With this system, anyone can verify whether the department's prescribed menu is being followed—both in terms of timing and quality.

Warden of each hostel must upload daily updates about breakfast, lunch, and dinner on a specially designed website. Any deviation from the prescribed menu is instantly flagged, prompting the concerned officer to seek a report from the district's deputy or joint director. The warden must then explain the discrepancy.

Speaking to City Hilights, Nagaraj Pujar, Project Officer for Food Transparency and Social Audit, said Karnataka launched this initiative to ensure quality food for students living in over 2,600 hostels—from middle school to degree level. The move comes after several student complaints about irregular meal timings, poor quality, and non-adherence to menus.

To address these concerns, the department built a unique tracking system. Every hostel warden is assigned a dedicated X (formerly Twitter) account and added to a district-level group. Before every meal, the warden must upload photos showing the cooking process, food containers, plated dishes, and students eating—with heads down to protect their identities. All images are time- and date-stamped to prevent reuse.

The website automatically tracks non-compliance, requiring wardens to justify any lapses. It also shows the percentage of adherence to the prescribed menu, allowing real-time tracking of food preparation across the state.

Pujar added that even someone from a remote corner of the world can monitor food being served in a village hostel in Karnataka. Anyone doubting the authenticity can visit the hostel or file a complaint on the website. These are addressed quickly. Students can also report issues through a dedicated helpline. Their identities are kept confidential, and surprise inspections are conducted. Wardens found negligent face action.

The department continues to improve the system to ensure better management and transparency in food distribution.