Question : CORRUPTION IN CATERING SERVICE

(a) whether the sale of chicken items was banned recently in railways catering service;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the number of preventive checks and other checks conducted by the zonal/divisional railway Managers to check corruption in catering service, Zone/Division-wise;

(d) the number of complaints regarding corruption in catering services received during the last three years and the current year alongwith the action taken thereon; and

(e) the steps taken by the Railways to check corruption in catering service?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS ( SHRI NARANBHAIJ. RATHWA )

(a) and (b) : Supply of chicken items in Railway catering services was initially banned in the wake of Bird flu. Subsequently, the ban was also withdrawn.

(c) to (e) : Railway Board Vigilance undertakes frequent checks to prevent corruption in the areas of Traffic and Catering. Railway Board Vigilance conducted 28 preventive checks in 2004, 43 preventive checks in 2005 and 4 preventive checks till April 2006 in the area of Catering. These checks have resulted in action on several contractors.

The number of complaints regarding corruption in catering matters for the years 2004, 2005,2006 as available in Railway Board`s Vigilance is as under:

2004	-	12 complaints
2005	-	22 complaints
2006 (till April)	-	09 complaints