Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, a bureaucrat renowned for his challenging assignments, has opened up about the profound personal impact of his career, which saw him transferred 25 times in just 21 years.
Speaking at Business Today's India @ 100 Summit, Mundhe acknowledged that while he chose public service and abides by its rules, the frequent reassignments posed considerable difficulties for his family. He recounted a particularly challenging period for his son, who had to change schools every year until the family finally settled in Mumbai in 2019.
A Childhood of Constant Change
Before 2019, Mundhe's son experienced a childhood marked by instability, unable to form lasting friendships due to the constant relocation. His schooling journey saw him move from Mumbai for senior KG, then to Solapur, Mumbai again, Pune, Nashik, and finally back to Mumbai. "Before that, my son had to change school every year, till he came to the fifth standard in Mumbai when I was shifted in 2019," Mundhe stated, highlighting the relief his son felt once stability was achieved.
The transfers also had a significant effect on his wife. Mundhe explained, "It affected my better half also because when we started, started working, and then immediately I got transferred, so that has also to be changed."
Commitment to Public Service
Despite the personal sacrifices, Mundhe maintains his commitment to his role. He emphasized that as a public servant, he accepts the inherent challenges. "If I want to be a public servant... whatever comes with it, we have to take it. We cannot expect cake and eat it too," he affirmed.
When questioned about his shortest tenures, Mundhe revealed instances where he was posted out even before officially joining a new assignment, an experience he described as having happened "multiple times." However, he declined to elaborate on those specific cases, stating they were not issues he wished to discuss.