Boy asks Tukaram Mundhe to reopen vada pav stalls in schools, gets health advice

A video of the boy's interaction with Tukaram Mundhe was shared on Instagram. In the clip, the boy told Mundhe that his friends had asked him to request the reopening of their school's vada pav stalls.Boy asks Tukaram Mundhe to reopen vada pav stalls in schools, gets health advice (Photos: Tukaram Mundhe/Instagram) New Delhi,Oct 12, 2026 12:39 ISTA boy’s request to Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe to reopen vada pav stalls in schools led to a conversation about healthy eating.The exchange comes after the Maharashtra FDA banned the sale, free distribution and advertising of junk food on school premises and within a 50-metre radius of them to promote healthier eating habits among children.The restrictions cover popular snacks such as vada pav, samosas, deep-fried items, chips, cold drinks, sugary beverages, chocolates and ice cream. The directive applies to schools across Maharashtra and is expected to affect more than two crore students.Meanwhile, a video of the boy’s interaction with Mundhe was shared on the Instagram account ‘Indraneil Anaspure’. In the clip, the boy told Mundhe that his friends had asked him to request the reopening of their school’s vada pav stalls. “What would you tell them if they asked you,” the boy asked.Mundhe urged children to eat nutritious food. “Eat well, and you will have a good body and a healthy mind. Eat nutritious food,” he said, adding that oily and fatty foods may taste good but can affect their health. Watch the video here:Announcing the order earlier this year, Mundhe said school principals and management would be held accountable for its implementation. He warned that schools failing to comply would face action, adding that FDA inspectors would visit every school at least twice a year to check compliance.Tukaram Mundhe also announced that food safety licences would be mandatory for school canteens across the state.- Ends