// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
Why some Indian civil servants become heroes for doing their jobs
Tukaram Mundhe has led a series of enforcement drives since taking charge in May
Among the thousands of civil servants who keep India's vast government machinery running, a small number become unlikely public figures every few years.
The commissioner of Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration, he has led a series of enforcement drives since taking charge in May. His teams have inspected restaurants and other food businesses, uncovering pest infestations, poor hygiene and expired food.
He has also highlighted large gaps between what hospitals pay for common medical supplies and what patients are charged.
These actions have made Mundhe a social-media celebrity, with videos and images from inspections widely shared online. Hundreds of people have commented that they wished officers like him could be sent to fix food safety concerns in their state.
Mundhe is not alone. In Gurugram, a suburb of Delhi, district town planner RS Batth has won praise for acting against illegal construction and encroachments.
But why are these officials treated like heroes for doing their jobs?
In India, civil servants are responsible for many services people rely on every day, from issuing documents to policing, food safety and healthcare. But many are also accused of delays, bribes and making people run from pillar to post.
So when an official appears to cut through the red tape, the response can be surprisingly enthusiastic.
"What should have been normal has become exceptional," says retired civil servant Kamal Kant Jaswal.