Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has urged Gen Z to look beyond endless social media scrolling and develop the habit of thinking independently.
Speaking during a recent public interaction in Pune, Mundhe asked young people not to simply consume reels and online content, but to question what they see, work towards their goals and build an identity of their own.
His remarks come as the 2005-batch IAS officer has drawn public attention for his strict enforcement drive on food safety and consumer protection across Maharashtra.
‘Don’t Just Scroll, Think’
Addressing young people, Mundhe highlighted the difference between consuming information and actually thinking about it. His message was not necessarily about abandoning social media, but about refusing to let algorithms dictate what people watch, believe or value.
The commissioner encouraged Gen Z to use its time and access to information more purposefully, develop independent judgement, work hard and create an identity based on its own abilities rather than online trends.
The advice comes from an officer whose public profile has itself been shaped by a strong emphasis on discipline, accountability and taking responsibility.
Since assuming charge of Maharashtra FDA on May 25, Mundhe has led an intensified enforcement campaign against food adulteration and unsafe practices.
Food Safety Crackdown To Conversation About Responsibility
Mundhe’s comments gain significance against the backdrop of his recent work as FDA commissioner. The department has conducted raids involving manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, eateries and other food businesses, with a particular focus on adulteration and hygiene.
He has repeatedly stressed that the objective is public health, describing the department’s guiding principle as “Safe Food, Safe Drugs, Safe Maharashtra”. In July, he also spoke about strengthening consumer grievance mechanisms, including technology-enabled ways for citizens to report adulterated food and substandard medicines.
His wider message to young people can similarly be understood as a call for active citizenship: information is useful only when people have the curiosity and judgement to examine it rather than accepting everything at face value.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Social media has transformed how young people learn, communicate and participate in public life, but constant consumption can easily become a substitute for reflection.
Mundhe’s message is therefore worth considering not as a criticism of Gen Z, but as an invitation to use technology more consciously. Young people deserve spaces where they can question, disagree, learn and form their own views without being reduced to what an algorithm recommends.
At the same time, critical thinking should go hand in hand with empathy: questioning information does not mean dismissing others, and building an individual identity does not require putting someone else down.
In an age of endless content, perhaps the more important question is not how much we consume, but how thoughtfully we respond to it. Do you think young people today are getting enough time and space to think for themselves?
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