Tukaram Mundhe: 'This Has To Become A Public Movement'

Speaking at the India Today Conclave, Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe addressed his sweeping enforcement drive against food adulteration and substandard pharmaceuticals across the state. Rejecting notions of personal publicity, he asserted that media attention must focus strictly on the larger public health issue, stating, "This has to become a public movement." Mundhe detailed systematic measures underway, including digital tracking to trace milk supplies directly to dairy cattle and sustained surveillance covering food establishments, active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturers, and hospital supplies. He also defended statutory notices served to celebrities over surrogate endorsements under the Food Safety and Standards Act. Responding to speculation regarding his tenure and frequent transfers, Mundhe reaffirmed that robust administrative institutions outweigh temporary personnel, explicitly stating that politics is not his cup of tea.