(a) whether the information has since been collected;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the reaction of the Government thereto;
(d) whether the action has been taken to review the relaxation of provisions of GFRs
relaxed by his Ministry as asked for by C&AG in its Report No.8 of 1999; and
(e) the details of the provisions that were relaxed of GFRs alongwith reasons for
relaxing those provisions?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND COMPANY AFFAIRS
(SHRI ANANDRAO VITHOBAADSUL):
(a) to (c) The Unstarred Question No. 5159 answered on 26th April, 2002 sought information
regarding the sale of overhead projectors and computers at higher rates by NCCF. NCCF
being under the administrative control of Department of Consumer Affairs, the responsibility
of collecting the information as envisaged in Question No. 5159 was transferred to D/o
Consumer Affairs, which has since been accepted by them.
(d) and (e) With a view to promote cooperative movement, Department of Personnel & Training
(DOP&T) in consultation with this Ministry had issued an Order dated 14.7.1981 which made
it incumbent on all Central Government Departments, their attached and subordinate offices
and other organisations financed and/or controlled by Government to make all local purchases
of stationery and other items only from Kendriya Bhandar in relaxation of the procedure of
inviting tenders/quotations prescribed in GFRs. Keeping in view the ongoing policy of
liberalisation of the economy and the emphasis on making Govt. organisations competitive
and self-striving, the question of reviewing the existing special dispensation given to
Kendriya Bhandar, Super Bazar and NCCF has been considered and the DOP&T was requested
to review their O.M. dated 14.7.1981 and issue revised instructions providing for adherence
to the provisions of GFRs with suitable safeguards for protecting the interest of the three
cooperatives. However, these revised instructions were not issued since DOP&T decided to
hold Inter-Ministerial consultations. Any decision in the matter can be taken only after
Inter-Ministerial deliberations and decisions thereon.