Vacant posts in FSSAI, DCGI reveal Govt apathy

Top posts at two key food and drug watchdogs in the country, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), continue to remain vacant for long - speaking volumes about the Government's apathy towards the food and health sectors.

Instead of full-time appointments, the Health Ministry has made an interim arrangement for the top slots in the two organisations which is being seen as a mere “formality”.For instance, even after retirement of IAS officer PI Suvrathan three months ago as the chairperson of the FSSAI, the Government is yet to announce his replacement. At present, the authority's CEO VN Gaur is holding the additional charge of the post.There are around nine contenders to the post but the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) is yet to take a final call.Similarly, the top drug regulator in the country is waiting for a full time head after the Supreme Court, in a jolt to the Health Ministry, last month refused to allow the extension period granted to DCGI Surinder Singh.Even though there had been consistent opposition to his tenure extension, the Ministry was adamant to ensure that Singh continued. So much so that it did not even bother to advertise for the new DCGI post.

It's only now that the Health Ministry has advertised for the DCGI's post and this may take another three months to zero in on the country's new drug controller.The Ministry has temporarily appointed VG Somani, currently the Deputy Drugs Controller of the East Zone, to the post till further orders.“Both the authorities have a very important role to play to ensure food safety and drug regulation in the country. But there is no top boss in both the organisations who can give vision and enthuse the staff. Drug regulation deals with the public health. The Government is sending a wrong message among the staff while public issues are being ignored,” a senior health official admitted.In fact, it's not only the Chairperson who is missing in the FSSAI, the top food watchdog also lacks sufficient staff and adequate resources such as laboratories to monitor the implementation of the new food laws. Moreover, the Health Ministry is yet to approve all the Service rules to remove uncertainty about the future of the employees of the FSSAI.

source:dailypioneer.com