FDA Chief Tukaram Mundhe Urges St Xavier's College Students to Embrace Leadership
On the morning of Independence Day, hundreds of students gathered at the St Xavier’s College hall in Mumbai to hear Food and Drugs Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe address the annual college festival, Malhar.
Delivering a lecture titled 'Man on a Mission', Mundhe bypassed discussions on his ongoing enforcement drive against defaulting food establishments, focusing instead on urging young people to step up as leaders. He told the audience to take ownership of solutions rather than relying on others, emphasizing that students should become leaders in their respective fields.
Mundhe encouraged the students to move beyond simply accumulating information and instead cultivate analytical capabilities to identify and address unmet societal needs. He cited the ability to sift through information overload as a crucial skill in both civil services examinations and decision-making for IAS officers.
Addressing potential civil service aspirants, Mundhe cautioned that students should only pursue the civil services if they possess the commitment and courage required to build a better society, noting that public administration is far more than just a job. He underscored the importance of personal discipline, stating that leaders must remain disciplined to guide others effectively.
Reflecting on his 21-year career as an IAS officer, Mundhe addressed the challenges of administrative pressures, telling the gathering that giving in to outside pressure reduces a leader to a mere manager. He recalled receiving hundreds of letters of appreciation during his tenure in Solapur, where he worked on resolving local water scarcity issues, noting that praise and criticism are both standard aspects of public service.
During the question-and-answer session, Mundhe declined to name a favourite restaurant, advising students instead to stay vigilant about the quality and ingredients of the food they consume and to avoid junk, spicy, and overly salty food.
