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 The Drugs Control Officers India Welfare Association (DCOIWA), the national body of drug regulatory officers, has officially ushered in a new era of leadership following its first Executive Committee meeting for the 2025-28 term.
Held in Chandigarh under the chairmanship of founder Lalit Kumar Goel, the session began on a solemn note as members observed two minutes of silence in memory of the late Amit Kumar, a drug inspector from Jharkhand. This meeting served as a bridge between honouring the association's past and laying the groundwork for an ambitious three-year roadmap.
During the session, the association’s national president G. Koteshwar Rao presented the half-yearly audited financial reports for both the Association and the Trust, covering the period from April to October 2025. Rao expressed his gratitude to the members for the resounding success of the 3rd Annual Congress held at Ramoji Film City last year. He also shared a significant infrastructure update, announcing that the association's new office building is nearing completion and is expected to be handed over within the next two to three months.
A major highlight of the meeting was the strategic reshuffling and expansion of the Central Committee to enhance administrative efficiency. Hemant G. Koshia was appointed as Honorary president, while founder Lalit Kumar Goel took on the role of working president. The leadership team is further bolstered by G. Koteshwar Rao as president, Baldev Choudhary as general secretary, and Parmanand Verma as treasurer, supported by a diverse group of vice presidents and joint secretaries representing various states and the CDSCO.
Looking ahead, the committee finalized the details for the 4th Annual Congress, which is scheduled to take place in Daman on July 11th and 12th, 2026. This prestigious event will be a joint venture between the Gujarat and Daman chapters. To ensure seamless execution, V D Dobaria has been nominated as the chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LoC), and senior leadership plans to visit the venue soon to begin onsite preparations.
The association also outlined a robust schedule for professional development and outreach. A series of awareness programmes are slated to begin in February and March 2026, targeting Chandigarh, Haryana, and Punjab. These initiatives will eventually expand to other key regions, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, reflecting the organization’s commitment to strengthening the regulatory landscape across the country.
In a moment of celebration, the committee took time to honour one of its own, Navdeep Kaur, a drug inspector from Punjab. Kaur was recognized for her achievement in being selected as ‘Mrs. Supra National’, an accolade that brought a sense of pride to the assembly. The president noted that such achievements highlight the multifaceted talent within the drug regulatory community.
The meeting concluded with the announcement of a grand farewell party for founder Lalit Kumar Goel, to be held in Chandigarh during the final week of March 2026. This event will coincide with the next CEC meeting, serving as a tribute to Goel's years of dedicated service. The proceedings wrapped up with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Manish Kapoor, marking a successful start to the new committee's tenure.
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