#GoodNews: This IAS Officer Is Helping Kerala Eat Healthier

Adulterated food? Not on IAS Officer TV Anupama’s watch!

IAS Officer TV Anupama (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Mission IAS- 2017)

Food Safety Commissioner TV Anupama has made life miserable for traders dealing in adulterated food in Kerala. Over the last 15 months, the IAS officer has carried out multiple raids on those engaging in illegal trade of adulterated food items and has shut down several networks of such traders.

Anupama decided to take action after investigation revealed that several food items were contaminated with as much as 300 percent pesticides.

At least 6,000 samples of adulterated food have been produced before the court along with the 750 cases that have been filed against traders in 15 months of Anupama’s administration, according to media reports.

She has also encouraged people in Kerala to grow their own vegetables in order to ensure healthy eating. Under the campaign, the state government delivered free seeds, saplings and helped people install drip-irrigation and bio-gas facilities at their homes. As a result of her efforts, the state, which used to get 70 percent of its vegetables from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, now natively grows the same percentage of food items.

However, Anupama says the media attention makes her uncomfortable.

I haven’t been comfortable with the kind of attention all this brought. I don’t use my personal FB page much. No Twitter and no verified official page. But at some point, you have to open up. It is mandatory that we put all orders on public platform. Whenever some adulteration comes we put on the website. I didn’t expect this kind of response. The worst situation is when your privacy is encroached. Family was dragged into it. Luckily they were very supportive. Most of the staff were too, and there was public support.

TV Anupama to <i><a href="http://www.deccanchronicle.com/151231/lifestyle-offbeat/article/no-nonsense-no-compromise">Deccan Chronicle</a></i>

Anupama shot to fame earlier in 2010 for securing the fourth rank in the Civil Services Examination.