India, Maharashtra, vijay kumbhar, News, Governance, RTI, Transparency, Civic Issues, Real Estate: June 2015

Monday, June 29, 2015

Pankaja Munde don't Make A Fool of People,Come Clean in the Purchase affairs

Pankaja Munde, accused of involvement in a 'scam' for  purchases worth Rs 206 crore without inviting tenders claims that she tried  to break contractors' lobby. But documents show that instead of breaking “the lobby” she pampered same old tainted contractors whose “rate contracts’ (RC) were expired long back. She didn’t explain how come issuing contracts to same old tainted people is going to break “the lobby”?.


The contracts of chikki and ayurvedic biscuits were awarded to Suryakanta mahila audyogik sahakari santha ( SMASS) and “Gowardhan ayurfarma “  respectively. SMASS’s RCexpired in June 2013  and Gowardhans’ in July 2014. There were also severe allegations against both the contractors,  even then Munde awarded it to them in February 2015.

Before going to discrepancies in awarding contracts let us see what is Rate contract. A Rate Contract  is an agreement between the purchaser and the supplier for supply of specified goods at Specified price and terms & conditions  during the period covered by The Rate Contract (Normally it is always One year) . No quantity is Mentioned nor is any minimum drawal Guaranteed in the Rate Contract. The Rate Contract is in the nature of a standing offer From the supplier firm. But there is always limit on maximum purchase on Rate Contract

All government purchases in Maharashtra above Rs 3 lakh are mandated to be made after inviting tenders. This provision is there since 1993 . erlier purchase worth Rs 500/- at a time and Rs 20000/-  of as ingle item in a year was  allowed on rate contract  . But above that  tender process was mandatory. Gradually this limit and provision was increased to 3 lakh till December 2014.


As far as SMASS’s case is concerned in 2011 government decided that instead of sweet ground nut laddus chikki will be provided to children and pregnant ladies anganwadi in rural and urban areas. The rate given as per tender for both items was Rs. 1.27 for 10 gram i.e Rs 12.70  for 100 grams. This happened in June 2011. In February 2012 government suddenly reserved several items like  mango pulp, pickles,  amala-  kokam  sharbat including  Chikki to be purchased  from SMASS  only. In august 2012 rate for chikki to be purchased was decided as Rs 21 /- per 100 grams i.e almost double the rate in 2011. Now how and why  some items were reserved to be purchased from SMASS  is matter of investigation. But when organization belongs to political person then nothing is impossible. Rates decided for SMASS  were applicable to 30 June 2013 only.

Meanwhile two work order of supply of chikki were issued to SMASS on 29 April 2013 ,but despite of clear objections from  commissioner , Adivasi welfare nashik , purchase orders were issued. Afterwards orders were stayed on 14 June 2013. On objections raised by then MLC Nitin Gadkari, Vinod Tawade and Ashish Shelar on 16th july 2013 Minister assured High level inquiry in this case. Accordingly One man High level committee of P.S Meena  was appointed to inquire in to the matter on 20 November 2013 . But as the matter was High profile committee didn’t find time to enquire into itHence again extension was given to committee till May 2014. But what happened to committee report no one knows.

Interestingly inquiry committee on chikki was appointed on complaints of BJP members Gadkari, Tawade and shelar on 20 November 2013. But none of them followed it. Even after they came in to the power in October 2014 they didn’t do anything. Moreover one of their colleagues Pankaja Munde awarded contract to SMASS. What does that mean? .Allegations were baseless or contractor was powerful enough to silence everybody?  

In Gowardhan biscuits case Rate contract was for three years i.e from july 2011 to july 2014 .Meanwhile therewere allegations of Supply after expiry date. But there was no inquiry ordered.Crores of rupees tenders were awarded to Gowardhan.

There are following possibilities in these cases .

1) Inquiry committee gave clean cheat to SMASS .but even then rate contract was expired and it was necessary to renew it.

2) ) Inquiry committee held  SMASS guilty then question of Rate contract doesn’t arise at all

3) Even if there was a fresh Rate contract for year 2013-14  question of purchases more than 3 lakh was not allowed.

4) There were no fresh rate contracts on Governments official website. So purchases done without rate contract or tender are illegal.

5) Suppose if they feed, chikki or biscuits of entire year in a single month, what will happen to children?. But who cares?

There are several other allegations against her. But asking for the proof from others is not going to help her. One thing is clear as mandated by RTI act and other Government resolutions the documents related to all government affairs  should be placed on website. Instead of doing that asking proof from others is raising doubts over her credentials.She also puts blame on her predecessors.However she should not forget that,  they made mistakes and hence she is there. Hiding behind their sins  is not a good idea.Instead of making  fool of people, she should Come Clean in the  Purchase affairs. 

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RTI KATTA 


RTI KATTA is a platform to empower oneself through discussions amongst each other to solve their problems by using Right to Information act, Every Sunday at Chittaranjan Watika, Model Colony,Shivaji nagar, Pune, between 9.30 to 10.30 A.M.

Vijay Kumbhar


RTI Resource Person, RTI Columnist
Phone – 9923299199



Tuesday, June 23, 2015

This week Maharashtra Government may notify some services under Right to Public Services Act

This week or next Government of Maharashtra may notify some services, that are to be provided under "Maharashtra Right to Public Services Act” ( MRTPS) .According to reliable sources formalities regarding this have been completed. To avoid delay in implementation, templates have been prepared and public authorities have been asked to notify their services in that format.


Interestingly the period of providing same service may vary in different public authorities. Because they are at liberty to frame time period as per their strength and available of resources. i.e  The period within which specific services will be provided from various departments, The type of services that will be provided, The documents that will be necessary to provide such services, The person to be contacted if the service is not provided in specified time.

MRTPS was the dream project of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnvis. In his first press conference he had announced, Right to Services Bill on the lines of the Right to Information Act enabling people to demand services from the government. The bill was supposed to be brought before the legislature and passed in March session. But bureaucracy didn’t allow this to happen.  Hence he had to take ordinance rout to introduce it.


The CM may be having good intentions but there are several loopholes in the Bill. No compensation if service not delivered in time, feathery penalty provisions to erring public servants,  unnecessary layer of appeal, and only internal appeal mechanism that may cause damage to very object of the act. 

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RTI KATTA is a platform to empower oneself through discussions amongst each other to solve their problems by using Right to Information act, Every Sunday at Chittaranjan Watika, Model Colony,Shivaji nagar, Pune, between 9.30 to 10.30 A.M.


RTI Resource Person, RTI Columnist
Phone – 9923299199
Email – kvijay14@gmail.com

Thursday, June 18, 2015

18th anniversary of "Cheat India Movement” Started by Public Servants of Independent India

Nobody celebrated or observed openly but it was 18th anniversary of cheat India movement started by bureaucracy in hand in gloves with politicians on 24 may 1997. Actually this movement started immediately after independence, but got recognition on 24th May 1997. This day all chief ministers’ conference held at Delhi recognized that as the country completes 50 years of independence and as the people are assailed by growing doubts about the accountability effectiveness and moral standards of administration. Central and state governments should move together to justify the trust of faith of the people in the government by taking up the implementation of the action plan endorsed by the conference in a time bound manner


Earlier conference of chief secretaries held in November 1996 had realized the importance of changing the present negative perception and felt that blame has to be shared by political, bureaucratic elements. The chief minister’s conference on 24 May 1997 resolved that the central and state governments would work together to concretize the Action Plan dealing with the Accountable and citizen-friendly Government, Transparency and Right to Information and Improving the performance and integrity of the public service.

On feb 19, 1999 : then prime minister in his address to national development council felt that people’s perception had become that bureaucracy was an agent of exploitation rather than a provider of service, corruption had become a low risk and high reward activity. He also felt that political executive should first critically review its own performance before expecting discipline and diligence from the administration.

Meanwhile several committees were set up, action plans were decided but instead improving system deteriorated more. More and more scams happened after that. Reason behind that was simple, nobody wanted it from bottom of heart. One interesting point was discussed in this connection was, for people-friendly and effective administration depends on elimination of corruption in the public service through prevention, surveillance and deterrent prosecution and dealing ruthlessly with the nexus among politicians, civil servants and criminals.
  
Since then and earlier also Indian bureaucracy has maintained its “worst in the world “ tag intact for many years, rating more than 9 points  out of 10. American businessman, investor and author Jim rogers say India Has the Worst Bureaucracy in the World.


On its golden anniversary of independence they started cleansing the administration. In last 18 years nothing has happened .Now let us see what happen till diamond anniversary.

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RTI KATTA is a platform to empower oneself through discussions amongst each other to solve their problems by using Right to Information act, Every Sunday at Chittaranjan Watika, Model Colony,Shivaji nagar, Pune, between 9.30 to 10.30 A.M.

Vijay Kumbhar

RTI Resource Person, RTI Columnist
Phone – 9923299199
Email – kvijay14@gmail.com
Website – http://surajya.org          

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

To show insubordinate public servants their real position Activists seek Anna Hazare’s support

Bureaucrats never allowed democracy to flourish in this country. And hence common person, the real owner of this country always remained deprived of his legitimate rights. They confiscated common person’s rights in hand in gloves with people’s representatives. They have forgotten that they are servants of citizens of India. To make realize their real positon members of “Mahiti Adhikar Katta”  have decided to write “public servant” or its abbreviation P.S before or instead of H’ble , Mr. or Mrs. while writing to any public servant. Katta members communicated this to Anna Hazare yesterday. 

Yesterday ( 15th June ) members of RTI katta extended birth day greeting to legendary social worker Anna Hazare at Ralegan siddhi. Activists informed him about new initiative they have taken to show their place to insubordinate public servants. (Reproduced below is letter written to Anna Hazare).Anna frankly spoke to activists present. Anna’s aid Datta  Awari informed them about living History of transformation Ralegan Siddhi, Janlokapal andolan and Anna’s life “ Media center” . This media center is amazing, once you watch it, nothing remain to ask about Anna’s extraordinary work. You become speechless.

Here is letter written to Anna

H’ble Anna

The conference of chief ministers held on 24 may 1997, recognized that as the country completed 50 years of independence and as the people were assailed by growing doubts about the accountability, effectiveness and moral standards of administration and hence  , central and state governments should move together to justify the trust of faith of the people in the government by taking up the implementation of the action plan

The conference also resolved that the central and state governments would work together to concretize the Action Plan dealing with the following themes

I. Accountable and citizen-friendly Government

II. Transparency and Right to Information and

III. Improving the performance and integrity of the public service.

Citizens’ Charter, Redressal of Public Grievances, Peoples Participation, Decentralization and Devolution of Powers,


In order to carry forward the Action plan for immediate as well as long term improvement in administration, it was decided to set up a Committee under the Cabinet Secretary including some of the Chief Secretaries representing the different regions of the country as well as some senior officials of Government of India

The states welcomed the initiatives by the Prime Minister towards more effective and responsive administration and stated that these initiatives are important and timely.

There after central and state governments introduced so many so called pro people legislations that too because of pressure from noted activists like you. But outcome was zero. Because there was lot of difference in what was written in the laws and actual situation on ground zero. Even if some pro people legislations were introduced they made sure that those will not be implemented properly. And hence you will see lot of former bureaucrats occupied most of the authorities after retirement.


Politicians and babus never tried to earn citizens faith back, they just eye washed it. The real culprit in this process was bureaucracy. Babudom is not willing to loosen its grip on the neck of democracy. It is not ready to decentralize powers. Hence even 18 years after all chief ministers’ resolution in presence of then prime minister things didn’t change.

They never allowed democracy to flourish in this country. And hence common person , the real owner of this country was always remain deprived of his legitimate rights. they confiscated common persons rights in conspiracy with  peoples  representatives.

However, what is the solution to come out of this situation?. Lot needs be done to achieve this. But we can start with small thing. Normally we use abbreviation like h’ble, Mr., Mrs. Etc. while writing to public servants. This has created superiority complex in their mind, and as a result they are not giving any heed to common person’s problems. To overcome this    common person should now start showing Public servant their real place.

If we write P.S for public servant before or instead of other abbreviation like H’ble, Mr. Mrs. Etc., we guess that will definitely make some difference. We don’t want to insult or abuse them but to show their place that they have forgotten. Hence if one who wish may write h”ble P.S or P.S Mr/Mrs etc . We the members of “Mahiti Adhikar Katta” have decided to do so immediately. We request you to support us on this issue.

 As well it is almost 10 years that our parliament passed Right to Information act on 15 June 2015. On 15th June 2005 parliament passed RTI and after that 120 were given to public authorities to comply with section 4 of the said act. But total state of the act in India is miserable. We have planned some events on account of 10th anniversary of RTI act from 15 June to 12th October. We seek your support for this also.


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RTI KATTA is a platform to empower oneself through discussions amongst each other to solve their problems by using Right to Information act, Every Sunday at Chittaranjan Watika, Model Colony,Shivaji nagar, Pune, between 9.30 to 10.30 A.M.

RTI Resource Person, RTI Columnist
Phone – 9923299199
Email – kvijay14@gmail.com
Website – http://surajya.org         
Twitter -  https://twitter.com/Vijaykumbhar62