FSSAI License: Battling Bureaucratic Barriers
Upon returning to India, I immediately noticed the scarcity of organic food options. Being a fan of organic food and an avid juicer, inspired by documentaries like Food Inc., I sorely missed it. To fill the gap, I started growing wheatgrass at home to supplement my diet. Soon, my friends joined in, enjoying wheatgrass juice with me regularly. Their enthusiasm sparked an idea—to turn this passion into a business, which meant obtaining a beverage license from FSSAI.
I promptly applied for a beverage license on the FSSAI website and waited eagerly. After ten days passed with no response, I decided to take matters into my own hands and visited the FSSAI head office in Delhi to check on my application. Little did I know, navigating the bureaucratic maze would prove to be more challenging than I anticipated. I was shuffled from one office to another, receiving no clear direction or answers. When my frustration peaked, I couldn’t help but vent my frustrations at one of the officers.
“I mean, Prime Minister Mr. Modi comes to us in the US and inspires us to ‘Make in India’, but here we are, bogged down by the same old red tape, suffocating his vision. How am I supposed to ‘Make in India’ with all these bureaucratic hurdles, delays, and lack of clarity?” I exclaimed, frustration evident in my tone.
I had hoped that my passionate plea would spark some positive change, perhaps prompt them to expedite my application. Instead, it seemed to have put the officer on the defensive, further complicating an already frustrating situation.
“Sir, feel free to speak to the commissioner if you’d like,” he challenged.
Little did he know, he was addressing someone who had battled through similar bureaucratic challenges in the past, successfully navigating them by seeking assistance from higher authorities. Without a moment’s hesitation, I marched straight to the commissioner’s office and patiently waited outside for my turn.
He probably never expected me to follow through, but my determination to push my application forward was unwavering. Eventually, he gestured for me to come to his desk.
“Sir, please calm down. Could you kindly provide me with your application number?” he asked, his tone noticeably softened this time.
I promptly provided the application number, and with a few clicks, he located it in the system. “I will approve this today, and you should receive confirmation by tomorrow,” he assured me.
True to his word, I received a confirmation email within 24 hours, and a few days later, the physical document arrived in the post. While my business idea didn’t ultimately take off and the license remained unused, this experience reinforced the importance of perseverance and resilience while navigating the complex layers of bureaucracy in India.
