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

Friday, July 31, 2015

Monitoring and ensuring growth of favorite contractors, Maharastra Chikki Scam part 8

Growth monitoring machine used to weigh malnourished children. Two contractors, Sai High tech Products and Nitiraj Engineers, were awarded the contract at a cost of Rs 6 crore and Rs 18 crore, respectively. Two separate orders were issued in that regard.


Interestingly in a communication dated 4/2/2015 of commissioner WCD with principle secretary wrote that department need to procure 7853 weighing machines costing 6,92,63,460/-. Interestingly in this letter only Sai Hi techs letter dated 6/11/2014 was   mentioned. (Anne 48) There was no communication from Nitiraj industries. Even then WCD minister allotted work within sai hi tech and Nitiraj Industries .The contract was divided equally i.e per contractor Rs 3.46 crore rupees on 13 february 2015.( Anne 48A)


Photo courtsey , downtoearth.org


Suddenly on 10/2/2015 Commissioner realized that department need more 20,729 machines of same specification. What prompted WCD commissioner demand such a huge amount of machines not known. But something happened in between 4 February to 10 February and interestingly in this letter also there was no any communication from nitiraj industries (Anne49) .Even Minister issued one more order on 13 February 2015 once again distributing 18.37 crore contract distributing sai and nitiraj equally. (Anne -49A)

Photo Courtsey http://www.bbc.com


There was no demand from Nitiraj  But Minister awarded it them without even asking for it .To award these contracts rate contracts of Chennai were considered. No tenders were called .No need of procurement was considered.


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Thursday, July 30, 2015

Steel plates made in ghost factory, Maharashtra Chikki Scam Part 7

It seems that scammers and their supporters in Infamous Maharashtra chikki scam are damn sure about the out come of all the drama that was  going on in Maharashtra since last two months. Otherwise director general of supplies and disposals (DGS&D ) would not have signed a fresh Rate contract with a dubious manufacturer of steel plates with enhanced items and quantity of manufacturing .( Anne – 67)


The Maharashtra chikki scam was first unearthed in some time first week of June 2015. Several malpractices came to light in procurement of chikki, biscuits, steel plates, water filters, plastic mats and so on. Many of the units who were awarded work did’t exist at all or were closed.

Vaidya Industries was one of such units. After scam was unearthed media brought to light the facts that Vaidya  industries was actually fabrication unit , was closed long back and didn’t have capacity or machinery to manufacture steel plates. Media also published visuals of this unit. After that government issued notices to the company as it failed to supply the items.




However interestingly DGS&D signed a fresh rate contract on 13 July , 2015 with same Vaidya  industries . And also amended it on 27th july ( Anne -67 A) With enhanced capacity of manufacturing Stainless Steel Parats, Spoons, Containers, Pona ,Masala Boxes, Serving Spoons, jugs , mugs, Stainless Steel Buckets, Thalis, Tumbler, Fry Pans and tea strainers etc. Now how dgs&d found a closed fabrication unit eligible of manufacturing all these items is an open secret. That means some government organization is in process of procuring these items.

Order of 8, 93,330 Steel plates of Rs 9,55,86, 310 was issued on 13 February 2015 by woman and child development department of Maharashtra. The reasoning given to procure steel plates is heart touching and convincing. WCD commissioner in his letter to principal secretary written on 13 February 2013 says ‘hot food is provided to 3-6 years inmates in anganwadis . Children are supposed to eat this food in anganwadis itself. Hence these children need steel plates. Otherwise these children bring utensils from their homes. Then they take food to their homes. As well they don’t keep these utensils clean. Hence they should be provided steel plates in anganawadi it self”.


Accordingly purchase order of about eight and half lakh steel plates was issued on 13 February 2015. Ignoring ceiling on purchase on rate contract, as well Capacity and actual business of manufacture (Anne – 38) .If at all provided so called manufacture of steel plates will take at least 2 years as accepted in order dated 13 February 2015 Rate was also offered higher than the agreed in rate contract.( As per RC rate was 93.05 rupees/ plate but offered was 107 /plate) ( Anne -38A) And as the manufacture has stopped supply of steel plates the anganawadi children are now bound to eat in their dirty home brought plates. Now please don’t blame ministers or officers for this mess.  In this case what a minister or senior officers can do ?. They awarded a contract violating all the norms and procedure for sake children’s health only. Now if contractor was found dubious then what was their fault? Was it ministers or officers duty to verify contractor’s credentials?. 


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Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Copyright of falsification, Maharashtra Chikki Scam Part 6

Copyrighted books are another form of procurement procedure, actually there is nothing special in copyrighted material that WCD has purchased. One can easily get copyright of anything. It is not binding on any authority to buy copyrighted work. In WCD copyrights are obtained only to avoid competition. In this case owner of copy right decides cost of his books and WCD purchases it on just meager discount.

A ) On 27 September 2014 on Bhanudas Tekavade Applied for copyright of “ Anganwadi sevekasathi MIS margadarshika and prashikshakasathi  Margadashak Pustika. (Anne -52 )   Immediately within 4 days he  gave commissioner WCD proposal to purchase these books in his companies name  i.e. even before copyright is awarded .Now don’t ask  How he came to know ,that said department is interested in purchasing  such product. Obviously tekavade decided cost of his work. Commissioner WCD promptly wrote a letter to Principle secretary on 5th September i.e. within three days describing nature of book and cost. Commissioner or Principal Secretary didn’t even look at in whose name copyright application has been made. They blindly believed what tekavade was saying and forwarded proposal in his company’s name. (Anne -53) .

Meanwhile tekavade sometime tekavade got Copyright of his work ( Anne -54 ). Exact date not known . but copyright was in tekavade’s name while minister issued order of purchase in the name of jagadguru printing  On 13 February 2015. Total cost of procurement was of 1,06,84,800 . No tender no competition.( Anne -55)

B ) On 11/08/2014 Bhanudas Tekavade got copy right of kala chetna – copy coloring kruti pustika  in his name i.e Bhanudas Tekavade only . When did he gave proposal government  not known But WCD decided to purchase those books on 21 /8/2014 i.e. within 10 days only  Accordingly minister issued orders on 13 February 2015 of worth 4,01, 80 , 656  in the name of jagadguru printing here also nobody no body bothered to look see copy right (Anne -56 )

C) Work of hasat khelat kruti pustika was awarded to dnyanada publications. The WCD record shows that dnyanada got copyright on 9/9/2014 (Anne -57 )    , But department had decided to purchase said books even before that that is  27 /8/2014.  (Anne -58 ) Interestingly website shows that no such application was made for copyright (Anne -59 )  then minister issued orders of rs 80,00,000/- (Anne -60 ) when did dnyanada gave proposal , how did WCD officials assumed that they will get copyright , don’t know.

D )  Work of Mazi  kruti pustika was awarded to Abhishek typesetters and publishers. The WCD record shows that Abhishek  got copyright on 25/8/2014 ( Anne 61)  . Within two days department decided to purchase said books on  27 /8/2014.  Interestingly website shows that no such application was made for copyright (Anne -62)  then minister issued orders of rs 90,00,000/- . when did Abhishek gave proposal , how did WCD officials assumed that they will get copyright , don’t know.

E)same way gammat jammat kruti pustika was purchsed from abhishree educational products of worth 80,00,000/- When did they get copyright don’t know. (Anne -63)

Monday, July 27, 2015

Scripting the corruption on hand made paper , Maharashtra Chikki Scam Part 5

The women child development minister awarded around 12.31 crore printing contract to Handmade paper Institute (HMPI) pune without tender and any competitive bids. Every body in this deal knew that HMPI was leased out way back and not entitled for any rate fixation.


Photo courtsy www.erewise.com

Draft of the Indian Constitution was written down by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on papers manufactured in Handmade Paper institute (HMPI) in pune. Indeed a moment of pride for it. However latter on babus of Khadi Gramodyog Village industries wrote a script of corruption on the same paper. Some officials of HMPI deliberately help decrease revenue and production of HMPI and eventually this unit was leased out to a private contractor in 2010. Not even that, they helped private contractor whom HMPI was leased out to bag government orders without any competition or tender.
Photo Courtsy thehindubusinessline.com

To understand magnitude of corruption let us see a calculation. Suppose HMPI as per its present full  capacity produces 1,11,000 kg  ( One lakh eleven thousand paper per year ) normally cost of hand made paper in market  is 140/kg. but assuming that it is 200 /kg it comes to 2,22,000,00/- (two crore twenty two laks). The HMPI has bagged contract from Women and child welfare (WCD) to the tune of 12.50 crores.   In addition to this HMPI caters to other government authorities .But can they produce so much handmade paper ? definitely not.

Handmade paper is produced from cotton rag waste from the cotton garment/ undergarment industry. More importantly, no toxic chemicals are used in the handmade paper making process. Handmade paper has the advantage of being 100% wood free which makes it the most eco-friendly form of paper and hence has high demand from government organizations. And  as per GR dated 2 January 1992 some Items were reserved to be purchased from this institute only being run by government.

Photo courtsy wwwdsource.in

Later on  Handmade paper Institute ( HMPI) of Khadi Gramodyog Village Industry ( KVIC)  was leased to private contractor in 2010 (Anne - 27) .This unit has capacity of  making  only hand  made paper up to maximum 20 – 25 tone /year. It has no printing unit. Some printing is done by screen printing method. Before leased out HMPI,s production capacity was reduced to 70 kg per day with 84 workers.( actual capacity was 240 kg/day). After leased out a private contractor a electric machine was introduced and production was increased by another 200 to 300 kg / day i.e. total capacity to 270 to 370 kg/day.( Two shifts)
Photo courtsy mumbaimag.com

Actually as this unit was leased to private contractor hence, and as per HC order and Government decision on Rate fixation, was not entitled to any type of rate fixation with government. Despite it some item (Anne – 28) reserved for institute and rates were fixed as if unit was run by government itself. And also extension was given to it repeatedly and also ceiling on purchase was vacated( Anne -29  ) (Remember high court order and government decision on rate fixation )

Then some officials of KVIC posed before WCD  as if unit was run by government Also assured of all the process of manufacturing is done in institute itself. And requested to allot work to handmade paper Institute (Anne -30)


Accordingly work was allotted to private party without tender. None of party related to this case was innocent. Everybody new what was going wrong. But was a silent party to money siphoning business.

A) Kalpak Rachana sanch, etc 4 items     -  4,89, 38,385/- ( Anne -31 )
B) Probodhan per Mahitee Pustika  -        - 2, 92, 54,351/- (Anne -32)
C) Handmade paper calendar                   - 99,99,425/- (Anne -33  )
D)Registers etc                                        - 50,43,990  ( Anne  -34  )
E) Handmade paper Drukk sandesh Pustika – 2,99, 52,955/- (Anne -35  )

Total work of 12,31,89,106  -  was allotted. All the orders issued on same day i.e. 13 February 2015. Without even knowing capacity of Institute.


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Water Filters that couldn’t quench contractors’ thirst – Maharashtra Chikki Scam Part 4

The haste shown in by all the concerned offices in procurement of water filter cum purifiers raises so many questions. Officers of Women and Child Department and industry department went out of the way so that Everest industries get the contract. Interestingly Everest Industries who has been eligible for supply of Water Purifiers this year, Industry departmet had last year made eligible for supply of Plastic mats ( Anne -39A). It shows that contractor is well acquainted with “procedure” of WCD and Industry department.

Water purifiers .Photo courtsy defendersblog.org

On Saturday 7 the February 2015 industry department sent a letter (SPC/RCT/Water Filter cum Purifier /03/2014-2015 C -883 dated 7 February 2013 )  to Everest industries, gangapur , Aurangabad, 350 kilometer away from Mumbai by R.P.A.D  to sign a rate contract. (Anne -39) ,  8th was Sunday. Its amazing but Everest Industries received said letter before   February 9th . On same day they reached Mumbai and submitted proposal to principal secretary to buy the water filters cum purifiers. First they submitted proposal and then signed Rate contract on 12th February. ( Anne -40 ).

Principal secretary WCD , next day i.e 10th February put his remarks “examine and put up” on letter received by Everest industry  on  9th and  sent it to commissioner WCD at navi Mumbai.On 12th Rate contract was signed and same day Industry department issued order to that effect and sent it to Commissioner WCD  Navi Mumbai .On 13 February commissioner WCD wrote back to  principle secretary to purchase water filters at the rate of 4500/ (Anne 40) and on same day minister approved proposal at the rate of 5200/- per water filter 700 rupees extra per filter Total cost 2,63,45,481. (Anne -41).

Is it interesting that Commissioner WCD, Principal secretary WCD and minister decided necessity , quantity and quality of water filters and amount be allocated to Everest Industry on same day i.e 13th february.

On a letter issued by commissioner WCD on 13th february  letter no is written is written SPC/RCT/Water Filter cum Purifier /03/2014-2015 C -974 dated 12/2/2015 . But the proposal passed by minister quotes industry department  letter no  SPC/RCT/Water Filter cum Purifier /03/2014-2015 C -883 dated 7 February 2013 . i.e letter sent by industry department to Everest industries. That means industry department had sent letter of signing the Rate Contract simultaneously to Everest Industries and WCD department also?


Tenders were invited by industry department for Water Filter cum Purifier from Manufacturers only for fixing Annual Rate Contract  (Anne -42 ) later through a corrigendum words “ authorized distributors” were inserted. ( Anne - 43 ) . It seems that Industry department didn’t open the tenders till Everest Industries deal with WCD was finalized.


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Ayurvedic biscuits that provided energy to corrupt politicians, Maharashtra Chikki Scam Part 3

Pankaja munde on 12 February  2015 citing same reasons as in chikki , ordered purchases of ayurvedic biscuits worth 95, 51,124/  (Anne 23 ) .But very next day  it was increased to 5 crores  without any changes in number of beneficiaries (Anne 23 A). When order was passed not competitive bids were invited, rate contract with company was not in force,(As per GR dated 28 July 2011 rate contract was applicable till 27 July 2014). ( Anne -22  ) nor company had its own production unit. Even company didn’t have FSSAI license for any of its products. Company had applied for that but the file was closed for lack of some compliance from applicant ( Anne 24 ). Company do not have production unit .

Malnutrition in jawhar , photo courtsy Frontline 
All other facts of this biscuits werr the same as chikki Company, i.e  there was no answer to the questions like,Which dietitian or doctor recommended it? Was impact of eating Ayurvedic Biscuits on malnourished children studied ?. However interesting part of the story is company never introduce Ayurvedic biscuits in open market. What does that mean ? After contract was awarded  to Gowardhan company put   fssai license number on biscuit packets but that  license number was actually of milk product and not of  the biscuits.( 24 A)
Herbal Nutritious Shatavariyukta for kishori/adolscents 


It was claimed that rate contract of providing ayurvedic biscuits was done by inviting e-tenders to Gowardhan Ayur Farma Pvt ltd. But company claims that they have applied for patent of this product . Then how tenders were invited and who else other participate in that process? .Documents of tendering process are not available. company hasn’t introduced this product in market, but providing it as Supplementary nutrition to malnourished children through  Government.

GR issued on 28 July 2011 on rate contract shows that tenders were invited from mahila mandals, mahila bachat gat, women partnership firms and industries run by women. This firm is run by three women and doesn’t have own manufacturing unit. Obviously outsources work to other companies and is clear violation of Supreme Court directives.
Herbal Nutritious Shatawariyukta for Garbhavati/Pregnant

Minister did  it on possibility of  extension  to earlier Rate contract.( Anne -23 ). In same order i.e. Of 13 February it is mentioned that extension to Rate contract has been given on 13 February itself. But who gave extension was not mentioned. Because giving such extension is illegal and the authority to this is industry department. And work cannot be a given to a company that do not have a license to produce that product .

Company has mentioned three manufacturing units on their  packets . 1) Gowardhan ayur Farma Pvt Ltd , Gat No 432 A, property no 1304, Induri, tal – maval , dist – Pune. , But there is no such factory. The land is vacant .2) Srujan foods private ltd, , Plot No D 8 , Chincholi , solapur, But this company to some other  persons  3) Uttara foods and feed pvt ltd. Ranjangaon , Tal – shirur Dist – Pune , This company belongs to venky’s

Herbal Nutritious Balgutiadiyukta for 6 months to 3 year old



In this case also Pnkaja Munde has to answer so many embarrassing question ?












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Chikki that nourished malpractices in Maharashtra Mantralay – Maharashtra Chikki Scam Part 2

In February 2013 Pankaja Munde awarded 76 crore chikki contract to Suryakanta Mahilaa Audyogik SahkariSanstha  SMASS  . Earlier in 2013 also SMASS had bagged 38 crore chikki contract in Congress - NCP run government, obviously without tender , competitive bids and despite of clear objections from  commissioner , Adivasi welfare . Afterwards order was  stayed and  High level inquiry was  in this case. On account of objections raised by then BJP member’s .Interestingly Not ruling party nor opposition followed the case.

Then BJP came in to the power and Pankaja Munde awarded exactly double amount i.e 76 crore chikki contract similar way and same contractor, Despite Supreme court order and High Court directives, Clear opinion of then commissioner (industries)  and decision of a committee headed by Chief secretary on  27 June 2013  ( Anne -8) to not to purchase Items on Rate Fixation and

 off course without tender or competitive bids .Wasn’t that interesting ?

Actually as per supreme court and Central government directives the food to be provided should be fresh,  hot and local. Accordingly government of Maharashtra on 6 July 2009 appointed a committee to decide rates, quantity of recipe of food that was to be provided anganwadis as Take Home Ration (THR) and to eat at anganwadi itself (Anne - 10) . Accordingly  a GR was issued on 24 august 2009  directing quantity and recipe of food that was to be provided to anganawadi children.

In This GR there was no mention of any type of Chikki or ayurvedic biscuits. (Anne -11).Ground nut laddu was there in that list. Then how come chikki was introduced in anganwadi children supplimentary nutrition food?. Story is interesting  on  2nd June  2011 then government decided that instead of sweet ground nut laddus chikki will be provided to children and pregnant ladies anganwadi in rural and urban areas. ( Anne - 12) .Which dietitian or doctor recommended it? Was impact of eating chikki on malnourished children studied ?.There is no answer to that. However interesting part of the story is there no chikki item in SMASS’s product list and it has never introduced chikki in open market. What does that mean ?

However the rate given as per tender for ground nut laddu  was Rs. 1.27 for 10 gram i.e. Rs 12.70  for 100 grams and it was kept the same for chikki in June 2011.

In February 2012 government suddenly reserved several items like mango pulp, pickles,  amala-  kokam  sharbat including  Chikki to be purchased  from Suryakanta Mahilaa Audyogik Sahkari Sanstha  SMASS  only. (Anne - 13).Don’t ask why this privilege was given to SMASS . Now how and why some items were reserved to be purchased from SMASS  is matter of investigation. What were its credentials?. . But when organization
belongs to political person then nothing is impossible.

In august 2012 rates for chikki’s  to be purchased were fixed  and they almost almost double the rate in 2011.  ( Anne - 14). Rates decided for SMASS  were applicable to 30 June 2013 only.

On 29 April 2013  work orders of supply of chikki was issued to SMASS, obviously without tender , competitive bids and despite of clear objections from  commissioner , Adivasi welfare . (Anne -15, Page 1) .  Even then Purchase orders were issued. Afterwards orders were stayed on 14 June 2013. On objections raised by then MLC on 16th July 2013 and Minister had assured High level inquiry in this case. ( Anne – 15, page 7) .

On 3 june 2013 Radika rastogi then Development commissioner (Industries) had clearly opined “The CSPO has not done any Rate contract for chikki. There is only Rate fixation. In case of rate fixation it is not done competitively as in an RC ( I.e by way of open tenders).it only means that rate are reasonable, it does not mean that rates are competitive. Rate fixation is only meant for small orders & reservation is given for the certain items produced by women’s groups, societies, organizations of ex servicemen, blind/handicapped persons etc. In the present case, where purchase is to the tune of 37 crores, it is advised that purchase based on rate fixation would not be appropriate. Open tender procedure need to be followed wherein the specification and & standard are clearly spelt out. “( Anne – 15, page 6)

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 it.(Anne -16 )  Hence again extension was given to committee till May 2014.( Anne - 17 )  But what happened to committee report no one knows.

Interestingly inquiry committee on chikki was appointed on complaints of BJP members,   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?

Despite Supreme court and High Court  directives, Clear opinion of then commissioner industries  and decision of a committee headed by Chief secretary on  27 June 2013  ( Anne -8) to not to purchase Items on Rate Fixation .The extension was given to rates fixed  for SMASS on 1 September 2014 (Anne -18)

On  12 February 2015 pankaja munde had a meeting with principal secretary (WCD) and as per her orders and Principal secretaries guidelines, all previous proposals were rejected and fresh proposal were submitted . And accordingly three work orders were issued First one was for 6 month to 3 year old and amount was 23 , 85, 65,763/- (Anne - 19)

Interestingly in this order word ( amaranth)  rajgira laddu/ chikki were there but afterwards only word chikki was mentioned in work order awarded. And accordingly only chikki was provided . There is difference between preparation of laddu and chikki . There was no mention of any rajgira Item in recipe GRs

Through second GR  she ordered purchase of micronutrient chikki/ laddu  but actually chikki was provided . Interestingly  rates of groundnut chikki and and micronutrient chikki were different. Ground chikki / laddu rate 210 / kg while  micronutrient chikki was 285/kg.This procurement was of 79, 81.42,671/- for for children of 3 to 6 year and pregnant and lactating women. (Anne -20 )

Through third GR she proposed to purchase of coconut chikki of 10,41, 55,260 for children of 3 to 6 years  (Anne - 21)

This all purchase was for for year 2014- fifteen i.e. for only thirty days following chikki items were
Rajagira chikki 6 months to 3 years children
                         quantity  1109608 kg rate Rs 215/ kg     = 238565720
Micronutrient   3 to 6 yrs  1909513 kg Rate 285/kg        = 544211205

‘’                     women          890987   rate 285 /kg          = 253931437
                                                            
Coconut chikki  3 to 6 yrs    520776 Rate 200/kg         =  104155260

Total chikki kg 4430884 (forty four lakh thirty thousand eight hundred eighty four kg)

Rupees 1140863622  ( one hundred fourteen crore eight lakh sixty three thousand six hundred twenty two Rupees) amount actually sanctioned earlier was next day revised to  75 five crores ( Anne – 23 A) and also items  micronutrient chikki for women and coconut chikki for 3 to 6 years children were cancelled. Don’t ask Why nutrition was denied to pregnant and lactating women and children of of 3 to 6 years group. Reason was obvious some more contractors who were sniffing in Mantralay corridors had also got clue of funds allocated to WCD. They also needed to be nourished. And only contractors do have approach in Mantralay and not the  malnourished children and women.



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This Scam Has a History,Maharashtra Chikki Scam Part -1

After firm denials of any malpractices in purchases contracts worth Rs 206 crore in a single day Pankaja Munde has now partly admitted her misdeeds. While doing so she also admitted that a company that provided chikki and khichadi of substandard quality in past was again given a contract. In her partial confession she cleverly has tried to put curtain on bigger wrongs. Not a single procurement of 206 crores she has done in February 2015 is free from scam.


Photo courtesy NDTV.com
It seems that this business of siphoning public money was going on in WCD since last many years. They wait for money to be allotted under integrated child Development Scheme ( ICDS ) and then distribute money amongst themselves. To do that they ignored, broke all procurement rules and guidelines. They arbitrarily made rate contracts; did rate fixation gave extension to it. And as all the ministers and senior officials were equally party to it no complaint helped break this racket.


As far as purchases of chikki and ayurvedic biscuits are concerned it also amounts to contempt of Supreme Court orders in 2004 and 2006. Supreme court had banned private contractors for supply of nutrition and directed use of village communities, self help groups and mahila mandals. On 7th of October, 2004 Supreme court ordered that  the contractors shall not be used for supply of nutrition in Anganwadis and preferably Integrated child development scheme (ICDS) funds shall be spent by making use of village communities, self-help groups and Mahila Mandals for buying of grains and preparation of meals.

On 13th of December, 2006  Chief Secretaries of all State Governments/UTs were directed to submit affidavits giving details of the steps  taken with regard to the order of supreme Court of October 7th, 2004 .  After that all the States and Union Territories were directed to provide supplementary nutrition in the form of a morning snack and a hot cooked meal to the children in the age group of 3 to 6 years.
Photo Courtesy Mid Day

But government of Maharashtra instead of hot cooked food provided chikki  and biscuits as a supplementary nutrition awarded work to “ Mahila Sanstha’s”  instead of mahila mandals or self help groups gave it Mahila sanstha or mahila institutions

Principal adviser to the commission that Supreme court of India had appointed to monitor the implementation of the food and work related schemes in the country (Anne - 1 ) had pointed out that Following the Supreme Court orders of 2004, the Government of Maharashtra attempted a system of decentralized supply through women’s Self Help Groups (SHGs) . To ensure that big contractors did not come in, they passed a Government Resolution that no single SHG should supply more than five anganwadis. (Anne 2  )

While this system was beginning to work, the Government of Maharashtra in 2009; once again introduced a new system through which it allowed backdoor entry of big private contractors with only commercial interests. Then GR in that regard was issued in 2011 ( Anne -3)

Meanwhile They cleverly used word  ‘Mahila sansthas’/ ‘woman’s institutions’in tender process . Mahila sansthas’/ ‘woman’s institutions’ includes not just SHGs/Mahila Mandals but any entity that has women in it, irrespective of size and turnover. By including Mahila Sansthas  the government of Maharashtra opened the door for private companies and contractors. And the contract was awarded to three mahila sansthas

The said report also observed following irregularities , in contract given to these santhas

• The contracts for supply of THR ( Take home ration) under supplementary nutrition project ( SNP)  has been given to Mahila Mandals which are further sub-contracting the responsibility of production of THR to private units. This is in violation of the spirit of the Supreme Court order that production and distribution should be decentralized and private contractors kept out

• The private units that have been leased by the Mahila Mandals for production of THR are owned by family members of the members of the Mahila Mandal who have the controlling authority over all organizational and financial matters in relation to the said lease agreement.

• In spite of many complaints regarding the quality of THR, there has not been any serious investigation or suspension of contracts. Lab reports on quality submitted by the Mahila Mandals are suspicious as all three mahila mandals approach the same lab and when the quality is tested in a government lab through picking a random sample, the THR failed to meet the nutritional norms. Further, even an independent checking by investigation bureau of the newspaper, Daily News and Analysis, Mumbai through a private lab showed that the THR being supplied does not meet nutritional norms.

• Two of the units (Paras Foods and Indo Allied Protein Foods) that have been leased by the Mahila Mandals for supply of THR are already under scrutiny following an FIR and Charge sheet by the CBI on charges of corruption in supply of food for the Tribal Department.

• Many of the transactions by the Mahila Mandals through the sub-committees have been done without informing and taking consent of the Co-operative Societies Department, as required by law.

• Although the ( Expression of interest ) EOI was invited for each district separately, the entire responsibility has been given to only three mahila mandals who are producing the THR in a total of less than ten units for the entire State, out of which one unit is based out of the State in Rajasthan.

Contract awarded to three mahila sansthas  were front originations of private contractors.(Anne -4) The report also throws light on names of private contractors. Interestingly according to media reports most of these contractors were near and Dear ones of Munde family. (Anne -5  ).That may the reason suryakanta is now blaming gujrati marwadi ( Anne – 6)

Before going to actual procure procere we must see what is Rate Contract and Rate Fixation

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 . earlier 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. (Anne – 7)

Rate fixation is only meant for small orders & reservation is given for the certain items produced by women’s groups, societies, organizations of ex servicemen, blind/handicapped persons etc. Nagpur bench of Bombay high  court declared rate fixation illegal (2545/2012).Accordingly on 27 June 2013  in a meeting held chairmanship of chief secretary it was decided that as HC order henceforth Rate fixation will not be done. Attachment.(Anne - 8).

Earlier there were two major categories of children 6 months to 2 Years and 2 – 6 years. As per guidelines for children between 6 months to 2 years supplementary nutrition was to be provided in form of paste. It was also condition that food provided to children below 3 years  should be light to eat and digest. Recipe for such food had been also given n this GR ( Anne - 9). There was no chikki, biscuits, eternal feed powder or protein powder in this chart.

Items like chikki , biscuits were never in this scheme but were procured for children in 6 month to 3 years range without adopting any procedure or considering it effect on children’s health.


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