No non-veg food on October 2 in trains, Railway Board proposes to govt

A proposal to stop serving non-vegetarian food on October 2 in trains across the country is under consideration of the government. The Indian Railways has proposed that non-vegetarian food should not be offered to the passengers on Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary for next three years beginning 2018.

According to the Indian Railway Boards proposal, the Railways is planning to observe the day as Vegetarian Day as a mark of respect to the Father of the Nation. The proposal, if approved, is likely to be tagged with the government's grand plan to celebrate the 150^th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi next year. The Centre has already launched several programmes to mark the occasion.

According to the proposal mooted by the Railway Board, campuses administered by the Railways and trains will not offer non-vegetarian food on October 2 in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

A special train, by the name of Swachchhata (Cleanliness) Express, will also be run linking places related to Mahatma Gandhi. The train will run from Sabarmati in Gujarat.

Another train, Vishesh Namak Rail (Special Salt Rail) is also likely to be flagged off on March 12 next year to mark the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi March. This train will have an exhibition of photographs depicting important events of the Dandi March.

The Railways is also planning to release a special stamp commemorating birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. However, this proposal requires approval by the Ministry of Culture, which is the nodal agency for it. The proposals of the Railways are under consideration of the special committee constituted by the government for celebrating the 150^th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

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