Garibija: Additional 200,000 KM for better meals in public kitchens

(Patria) - The Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Displaced Persons and Refugees of Sarajevo Canton, in cooperation with the Coordination Board of Public Kitchens, has agreed on a significant improvement in the quality of meals in public kitchens. The new Rulebook on the norm of food items required for preparing one hot meal has already entered into force, and the Government of Sarajevo Canton has supported the allocation of additional funds for these purposes in the 2020 Budget. The responsible minister, Malik Garibija, points out that they have planned an additional approximately 200,000 KM for improving the quality of meals.

"During the year, we received several complaints from citizens regarding the quality of meals in public kitchens, as well as remarks about the lack of dietary diversity. Previously, the Ministry dictated the norm; this time, we started with the opposite logic. We gathered representatives from all public kitchens and gave them a completely free hand to compile a new norm according to their wishes and own experience, with the requirement that the meals must be significantly higher quality, the kind we would eat ourselves," states Minister Garibija.

The Coordination of Public Kitchens reacted very positively, submitting a new norm which the Ministry accepted without any interventions. Thanks to the goodwill of the KS Government and the ruling majority, an increase in funding for the preparation of hot meals, as well as dry meals distributed on weekends, has been secured. In addition to greater diversity in meals, a novelty is that the amount of meat in the meals has been doubled; specifically, the previous amount of bone-in beef is now calculated without bones in the new rulebook. Also, chicken has been added to some meals at the request of users.

"Through our policies, we strive to reduce as much as possible the number of people who unfortunately have to obtain meals from public kitchens, but for those who do eat in public kitchens, we want to provide the best possible meals. Among the 300 measures of the KS Government, there is also a measure that Sarajevo must be a city without hungry people. For the realization of this measure, three key activities are: improving the quality of meals, improving the working conditions of people working in the kitchens, and introducing a new concept of public kitchen for all. The first two activities were successfully realized in 2019, while the third is under negotiation and is expected to be realized in 2020," explains Minister Garibija.

In November 2019, 1,278 households with 3,169 members were entitled to a hot meal in Sarajevo Canton. The right to a hot meal is exercised through the Social Work Center of KS, and these are the most vulnerable residents of the Canton. More information on how to obtain the right to a hot meal in Sarajevo can be found by citizens on the Map of Rights and Services, at the link: https://mapapravaiusluga.ba/topli-obrok-u-javnim-kuhinjama-kantona-sarajevo/.