Jyoti Sardesai highlights her journey from a pharma graduate to being Director of FDA
Jyoti Sardesai took over as Director of Food and Drugs Administration in 2017 and was the first woman to take over the post. Sardesai was born and brought up in Siolim, where she completed her primary and secondary schooling. She went on to complete her higher secondary from St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa and later graduated from Goa College of Pharmacy, which was then affiliated to Bombay University. Back then obtaining a higher education degree was no easy task especially for those who had to commute from far off places what with only one bus being available from Siolim to Panaji.
When Sardesai graduated in 1984 with a first class, there were very few pharmaceutical companies in Goa, mostly promoted by local entrepreneurs and one public sector enterprise, Goa Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. at Tuem, Pernem where she began working. Here too, she had to commute by public transport which was limited and since the Siolim bridge was not ready, she had to take a ferry. After gaining sufficient experience, Sardesai moved to a Mumbai based company at the Tivim Industrial Estate. “I gained valuable experience in Quality Control and Quality Assurance, and I was approved by the then Office of the Drugs Controller as expert staff in chemical and instrumental, microbiological analysis as well as pyrogen testing. Back then, I was among a few pharmacists in Goa to hold all these analytical approvals,” she says.
While at GAPL, Sardesai was also selected to undergo a specialised training course in microbiological analytical techniques conducted at Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd in Pimpri Pune. After around 8 years of experience, in the private and public sectors, Sardesai joined the Government of Goa at Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration in the Gazetted Officers cadre.
Sardesai joined the FDA as a Drugs Inspector in 1992 through the Goa Public Service Commission selection process. “My first boss was the then Director, S. N. Tripathi, who was pleased over my joining the department, as he felt that officers like me with a good academic background and sound professional experience were essential in government services. He also expressed his desire to see me occupy the chair of FDA Director one day. Later I was promoted to Assistant Drugs Controller in 2005, Deputy Director, in 2010, and finally as Director in December 2017. Tripathi was also instrumental in encouraging me to pursue my further education, and I did my Masters in Pharmaceutical Science at Goa College of Pharmacy, again with a first class. Incidentally, I was the first person from the Department to complete this course, while in service.”
Sardesai was also the first woman to occupy all these positions at Goa FDA, and also amongst a very few in the entire country. In addition to her regular duties, over the years, she has also shouldered additional responsibilities in her department, such as Designated Office for Food Licensing, Public Grievances Officer, Public Information Officer, and Chairperson of Committee against sexual harassment at the workplace.
For Sardesai, it was a challenging task to manage official work, field duties, investigations, offsite meetings, various training courses, conferences and also the home front at the same time. However, with the strong support, understanding and adjustments from her family and domestic help, she could perform not only on par with her male counterparts, but even better. “I never asked for any concessions on the basis of my gender, and none were given either. Besides being the Director FDA, I have the honour of sitting on various committees such as Management Council of Goa College of Pharmacy, Board of Technical Education, Goa State Pharmacy Council, Goa State Pollution Control Board, Central Advisory Committee of FSSAI, and Association of Food Scientists & Technologists of India etc.”
As Director of FDA, Sardesai is entrusted with the responsibility to ensure availability of safe and efficacious drugs to the public. This involves regulation of pharma manufacturing and trade activities in line with the Drugs and Cosmetic Act, Rules and various other Central Acts.
“In addition to being Director FDA, I am also the Commissioner Food Safety, Goa, with the responsibility to ensure that food available in the market is safe and of right quality. Here, we are responsible for implementing various food safety regulations in the State, under the guidance of FSSAI, which is the Central body. As such, my day always remains busy with the technical matters, files to be disposed, administrative matters, meetings, hearings, etc.” Goa FDA has its own testing laboratory at Bambolim, which is accredited by NABL for Food testing. “Besides being a regulator, Goa FDA has always believed in acting as a facilitator for the food and pharma industry and trade. Being at the helm for the last five years, I have taken special efforts in promoting facilitation, ease of doing business and increasing efficiency and transparency.”
As a result of the efforts of Sardesai’s department, Goa has won the first place in the Food Safety Index in the category of small states, for the last four consecutive years, in the evaluatory contest conducted by FSSAI on the national level, a unique feat among all the Indian States, in any category. She has also been appointed by the Ministry of Health, Government of India as Member of the Food Authority, an achievement she is particularly proud of.
She makes a special mention of the contribution of her department during covid-19. “We had a vital role to play in the management of the pandemic. My team and I worked tirelessly in the background throughout the pandemic. I personally went to my workplace every day while working 17-18 hours daily, and did not miss any SEC meetings, which were convened on all days irrespective of weekly or any other holidays. It is a matter of pride to me that even senior bureaucrats from Central Government appreciated the work of my department, which was always first in providing them real time data on daily basis, apart from all other duties and assignments.
We were the first state in India to operationalise the activities of the pharma manufacturing units and to achieve 95% productivity in just a couple of weeks. This collaboration between Goa FDA and GPMA was exemplary to the entire country.”
The FDA carries out regular inspections of the premises of food business operators. “It is observed that especially, during the I, feasts and fairs, some operators carry out on-site cooking of food like gobi manchurian, without proper facilities for safe water and waste disposal. Many also use banned food colours, and otherwise in excess of allowable quantities, which makes such products overly attractive especially for children. Consumption of food at such places may lead to stomach disorders. Hence, special drives are undertaken to check on such stalls at such places.” Goa FDA, in addition to regulatory functions in the drugs and food sectors, also has the vital responsibility of providing food security to His Excellency the Governor of Goa, as well as VVIP visitors during their visits to the State, including the President, Vice President and Prime Minister of India, a task the Department has been carrying out diligently.
Sardesai is also a member of the Women’s Wing of GCCI and her association with the Chamber goes back a decade. She has also been a member of the Consumer Affairs Committee of GCCI.
GCCI and FDA in collaboration have undertaken many initiatives of knowledge-sharing on food safety, licensing and registration of food businesses, for the benefit of women entrepreneurs and self- help groups. “Self-help groups, who had obtained registration certificates from our Directorate for their food business and had started marketing their products, have expressed their contentment about the programs conducted by the women’s wing of GCCI and FDA,” she adds with satisfaction.
Women Empowerment is another subject that is close to her heart. Sardesai ensured that her domestic help’s daughter completed her education with financial help and material support from her.
During covid, when classes were being conducted online, Sardesai’s family presented mobile handsets and laptops to deserving girl students. She also enjoys listening to classical music. Sardesai’s source of inspiration has been her parents, various teachers at different stages of her education, her husband Jaiwant, who has been her best friend, advisor, and harshest critic, too. Her son Aditya has also encouraged her to be the person that she is today.
Two of her teachers predicted that she would make her school proud someday and encouraged her in public speaking, and writing articles in newspapers. Her mother often refers to her as the third son. Having worked for forty one odd years, Sardesai will be attaining superannuation next year. “I will be happy to share whatever little experience, expertise and knowledge I have gained over the years, if anybody desires to benefit from it. I intend to keep myself active and wish to continue with my passion for social service and women empowerment.”
She concludes with a message to women who wish to succeed. “Quality and compliance are the two main factors on which the success of any enterprise depends. There is no substitute for hard work. Commitment and dedication will always bring benefits in the long run”
