AP.Mahabharathi, I.A.S.

, District Collector’s Office

District Collector. Palpannai, Tharagai Salai,
Mannampandal,
Mayiladuthurai – 609 001
Phone Office : 04364-290 760
E-mail : collr-myd@nic.in

D.O.Letter No: 16/2024/A2, Dated: .03.2024

Respected Sir,

Sub : Public Services:- Food Safety and Drug Administration –

Mayiladuthurai District – Request for Appointment of
District Designated Officer and Food Safety Officer - reg.
Ref : 1. G.O.(Ms) No.796, Revenue and Disaster management
Department, Revenue Administration Wing, [RA1(1)]
Section, Dated: 28.12.2020.

2. Related Documents.

*****

Our district is originally belongs to combined Nagapattinam district. In

2020 it was declare as a new district with head quarter of Mayiladuthurai. Our
district contain population of around 9,18,356(2011 Census). Also, our district
has 2 Municipalities, 5 Blocks. After declaration of our separate district most
of the department have been split from Nagapattinam and running
independently with separate HODs for each department with headquarter of
Mayiladuthurai.
Considering health department, we have joint director of health service
and deputy director of health service separately. But, food safety department
was not having been separated from Nagapattinam. Till now, it is functioning
from Nagapattinam as a headquarter and no separate HOD (District
Designated Officer) was posted yet and also the subordinate officers such as
food safety officers was also vacant.
But Our district contains food business operators of around 5985 which
includes both license and registration Category (LC-585, RC.5400). We are
having pending around 38 civil cases to be finalised in AO court, 19 Criminal
cases to be disposed in JM court till date. From 1.11.2023 onwards the FIR
cases to be action taken by food safety was 155, in which around 61 shops
have closed till date. Remaining yet to take action. Also, our district having a
sample target of enforcement samples 5/ FSO / month and surveillance
sample 25/FSO/month, In which out of 4 places we are running with 1 FSO,
So major backlog occurs in our district.
 Beside these activities food safety is having lot of major roles in

● Implementing ban orders(Eg:. Ban on food containing tobacco and/or

nicotine),
● Putting compounding penalties,

● To work on RUCO (Re Used Cooking Oil),

● No Food Waste,

● Inspection over various mode of Public petition,

● Inspections of the FBOs,

● Inspection over complaints,

● To attend the inter departmental meetings,

● To conduct various awareness meetings and trainings of the FBOs and

Publics,
● To attend the food poisoning incident,

● To attend the VVIP duties (lifting food samples),

● To attend JM Court,

● To attend DRO Court,

● To lift Enforcement and Surveillance samples and

● To ensure the 100% of License and RC. In the district.

For which, originally our district was posted with 7 food safety officers,
but later onwards it was revamped has 4 food safety officers post. In that 4
food safety officers post 2 places were already vacant, in remaining 2 post one
officer was not dispensing his duties properly. Always, he is on leave due to
various health issues, So, it was very difficult to dispose the regular duties in
the districts with 1 FSO. The District Designated Officer also taking care of 2
districts.
To minimize the work pressure of the department and for the better
implementation of the food safety and standards for the peoples in
Mayiladuthurai district, we need a separate parallel department for this
district. So, I kindly request yourself to consider this issue and post additional
food safety officers and a new District Designated Officer for this
Mayiladuthurai District.
Thanks sir.
Yours Sincerely,
 (AP.Mahabharathi)

To:
Thiru.Gagandeep Singh Bedi, I.A.S,
Additional Chief Secretary to Government,
Health and Family Welfare Department,
4th Floor, Fort St. George,
Secretariat, Chennai – 600009.