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Friday, August 7, 2015

Contractor - Politicians nexus exposed, Khadse - Shaina NC attended biscuit scam accused program, Maharashtra chikki Scam

Former chief minister and Congress leader Narayan Rane recently revealed that Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse had recommended the Sindhudurg based Suryakanta Mahila Audyogic Sanstha (SMASS) in 2012 for the procuring of chikki children of anganwadis. Rane’s revelation is actually confession of how all political parties’ years together are doing injustice towards malnourished children.

Photo Courtsey Shaina NC facebook and twiter - https://www.facebook.com/ShainaNC/posts/827177897378629, https://twitter.com/shainanc/status/598892574171013120

All the scammers in Maharashtra Mantralay have good relations with politicians .SMASS has been accused of Chikki scam in Maharashtra. The companies providing chikki, biscuits and other products to government of Maharashtra never introduced their products in open market.

Not only SMASS , Khadse and BJP leader Shaina NC had also attended a program arranged by another accused in this scam the ayurvedic biscuit provider to anganwadies.

Gowardhan ayur farma Pvt Ltd (GAFPL) was awarded contract of providing ayurvedic biscuits. Managing Director of GAFPL Bhagyashree Chounde also runs a NGO called Gowardhan Mahila Vikas Pratisthan (GMVP) .In may 2015 along with revenue minister Eknath Khadase BJP leader Shaiana N C also attended the program arranged by GMVP. This shows how the contractors who have a very close relation with politicos manage to get contracts violating all the rule, regulations and ethics.

Pankaja munde on 12 February 2015 ordered purchases of ayurvedic biscuits worth 95, 51,124/ .But very next day it was increased to 5 crores without any changes in number of beneficiaries. When order was passed not competitive bids were invited, rate contract with company was not in force, 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. Later on these biscuits were found to be unsafe to eat. Food and drug authority revealed that acidity count was much higher than permissible count.

Though Rane has accused that Khadse recommended SMASS chikki Its first factory as per their website was inaugurated by Narayan Rane himself. It is also clear that when Rate fixation with SMASS was done Rane was minister of industries who reserved chikki to be purchased from SMASS only. This definitely shows the nexus between the contractors and politicians.

Related stories

Maharashtra Chikki Scam, who is kingpin of the racket and contractors' nexus ?

This Scam Has a History, Maharashtra Chikki Scam Part 1

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

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

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

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

Copyright of falsification, Maharashtra Chikki Scam Part 6

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

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

Magic plastic Mats of Aladdins in Mantralaya, Maharashtra Chikki scam part 9

Medicines that couldn’t kill bloodsucker worms, Maharashtra chikki scam part 10

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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.

Workers in this institute have written to CM that none of the above product was manufactured in HMPI. That Means contractor has manufactured all these products somewhere else while manufacturing the same in HMPI was the basic condition. It is also impossible to manufacture so much amount of hand made paper in HMPI or any such unit . Hence products if provided at all must be of mill made paper . ( Anne – 36 & 37) and that amounts to cheating.

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 16^th 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 it. Hence 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.