Why does India’s food safety system need a Clint Eastwood?
Between May and July this year, Tukaram Mundhe, a 2005 batch IAS officer from Beed, Maharashtra, reportedly walked into 3,137 restaurants, issued 764 improvement notices, and shut down 165 of the eateries. And became a Singham-style folk hero in the process, celebrated on social media…
And became a Singham-style folk hero in the process, celebrated on social media and news channels as the bureaucrat who finally did what the system was supposed to do all along. The thing is, Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration has FoSCoS — the Food.
So you don’t really need a vigilante — it should be quiet, boring, predictable and effective work. There’s information, but no enforcement, not until Mundhe shows up.
What Happened
Violation found lab test ordered results analysed audit conducted adjudication penalty issued restaurant closed. The system has too many blockers and not enough doers, however.
Between May and July this year, Tukaram Mundhe, a 2005 batch IAS officer from Beed, Maharashtra, reportedly walked into 3,137 restaurants, issued 764 improvement notices, and shut down 165 of the eateries.
Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.
If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments.
Key Details
Violations sit in audit, then in adjudication, then in enforcement — with each step a checkpoint that can delay matters indefinitely. Singapore has inspections and rules just like we do, but here’s the critical difference: When a restaurant fails inspection, the rating.
If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform.
Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
Why It Matters
The owner doesn’t fear the inspector or worry about fines — he fears customers who see “Failed” and go somewhere else instead. Revenue drops the same week, the owner fixes the problem immediately, and market pressure does what bureaucracy never could.
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences.
It’s that India needs to stop hoarding regulatory data.
What Reports Say
Coverage of the story so far points to:
Continued reporting by BusinessLine as more details emerge
