Question : Amendment in GFR 142 and 144

(a) the details of action taken on letters dated 10.03.2016 & 11.08.2016 received by the Government from All India Association for SC/ST & Physically Handicapped;

(b) whether any proposal is sent to Ministry of Finance to amend GFR 142 & 144 to give reservation to SC/ST Suppliers/ Contractors in Government Supplies/ contracts;

(c) if so, the details and status thereof;

(d) whether GFR 142 & 144 would be amended by Ministry of Finance or MSME;

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(f) the time by which the proposal would be sent to Ministry of Finance?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)
(a) to (f): The All India Association for SC/ST and Physically Handicapped has sent a letter dated 10/01/2018 requesting to send a proposal for 22.5% reservation for SC/ST Contractors/ Suppliers for government supplies and all kinds of contracts to the Ministry of Finance. In the same letter, they had made a reference to their earlier letter dated 11/08/2016, wherein similar request had been made. The letter dated 11/08/2016 and 10/03/2016 have not been received in the Ministry. However in response to the letter dated 10/01/2018, a proposal to the Ministry of Finance was sent on 17/01/2018.
In response, the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance stated in its letter dated 13/02/2018 that the Rules 142& 144 of GFR-2005 have now been revised as Rule 150 and 153 of GFR 2017. Under the Rule 153(iii) of GFR 2017, it is for each nodal Administrative Ministry/ Department of the subject matter to take policy decision for Reserved Items and other Purchase/Price Preference Policy and accordingly, the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion(DIPP) has issued Public Procurement (Preference to make in India) Rule, 2017 under this provision.
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