Question : AUSTERITY IN EXPENDITURE

(a) whether several departments of the Government are not following fiscal prudence in the purchase of stationery and other items from NCCF and Super Bazar;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the reasons for authorising NCCF and Super Bazar to supply stationery to Departments of the Government when Kendriya Bhandar has already been authorised for the same;

(d) whether authorisation of more than one agency has not resulted in mismanagement of supply of stationery and other items to the Departments of the Government; and

(e) if so, the details thereof alongwith the details of remedial measures initiated, if any?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI V. SREENIVASA PRASAD)

(a) & (b): The Government Departments are required to follow the fiscal prudence in the purchase of stationary and other items from the three approved agencies namely the Kendriya Bhandar, the Super Bazar, Delhi and the NCCF. However, the information/ details relating to this is not centrally maintained in the Department of Personnel & Training.

(c) & (d): Government have authorized the Kendriya Bhandar, the Super Bazar, Delhi and the NCCF for supply of stationery and other items to Government Departments located in and outside Delhi. The Government`s effort has been to give thrust to cooperative movement by encouraging the cooperative stores. But, to ensure quality and reasonable prices, it was essential to introduce an element of competition and thus authorization to the three cooperatives has been given.

(e) : Does not arise.