Lok Sabha Question No. 263 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Purchasing by NCCF
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Krishna Prasad Tenneti

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 263

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2024

## PURCHASING BY NCCF

## 263. SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI:

## Will  the  Minister  of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has stalled giving orders since 2016 to National Cooperative Consumer's Federation  (NCCF)  for  purchasing  items  like  stationery,  cleaning  material,  computer  accessories, furniture goods etc., for the use of Government sector offices on the introduction of centralised new Government e-Marketplace (GeM) purchase system and as result of the same, NCCF suppliers and their employees have become unemployed;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  in  favour  of  encouraging  the  small  traders  and  businessmen  of  the country;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has any idea of restoring its orders to NCCF to at least keeping a cap of below one lakh purchases so that NCCF can be revived and provide re-employment to the lakhs of traders and suppliers of NCCF; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h (श्री बी.एल. वर्मा )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI B.L.VERMA)

(a) to (c) :  As per DoPT order dated 1.12.2014 , the government had granted permission of local purchase of  stationery  and  other  activities  from  Kendriya  Bhandar,  NCCF  and  other  Multi-State  Co-operative Societies  having  majority  shareholding  by  the  Central  Government upto  31.03.2015. The  Government  eMarketplace (GeM), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), was set up as the National Public Procurement Portal on  May  17,  2017  for  providing  procurement  of  goods  and  services  by  Central  and  State  Government Organizations. GeM is the Public Procurement Portal for procurement of goods and services for all Central Government  and  State  Government  Ministries,  Departments,  Public  Sector  Units  (PSUs)  and  affiliated organization.

Further, GeM provides an open inclusive platform for all kinds of vendors i.e. Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), resellers, and service providers to register and list their products/services without any entry  barriers.  These  aspects  aided  in  developing  a  truly  inclusive  marketplace,  enabling  big  and  small sellers  to  conduct  business  with  the  Government  in  a  transparent  and  efficient  manner.  GeM  has  also enabled various functionalities like i.e. Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India), MSME Policy, Start-up India etc.

As per Rule 149 of General Financial Rule(GFR) 2017, the Procurement of Goods and Services by Ministries or Departments is made mandatory for Goods or Services available on GeM.

(d) & (e) : There is no proposal with the Government to restore orders to grant permission of local purchase of stationery and other activities from NCCF.

However, NCCF has been assigned the work related to various schemes like Price Support Scheme (PSS), Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) and Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector which is implemented by Govt. of India. This has resulted in all time higher Turnover of Rs. 2811.39 crores and net profit of Rs. 29.26 crores for the NCCF during 2022-23.

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