The Union Government has urged the Odisha to start using the Indian e-Commerce space for purchase of all the day-to-day requirements of the Government organisations.
like Flipkart, Snapdeal and others, the Government of India has floated a new giant -Government e-Marketplace (GeM), which has been developed by the Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGSD).
DGSD Director General Binoy Kumar informed the State Government about such an e-Market facility, which has been launched recently and is being utilised by several Government organisations.
Now the Government organisations would be able to make routine purchases from cups, saucers to computers, printers and several other major requirements as presently 29 product categories with offers for about 1,500 products from more than 700 sellers are available on the GeM.
Kumar informed that hiring transport services has also been listed on the GeM with over 140 vehicles from 46 service providers. Within a short span of time, procurement worth more than Rs 20 crore has been made through the GeM. And, this has helped in substantial savings.
Procurement on GeM has been enabled by amendment to the General Financial Rules (GFR) of the Ministry of Finance. Further, the Department of Expenditure has mandated payment within 10 days of acceptance of goods and services to the suppliers.
The GeM has already been integrated with Public Financial Management System (PFMS) for all the Ministries in the Union Government. And, it has been integrated with the State Bank Multi Option Payment System (SBMOPS) for direct payment through banking channel.
Kumar informed that the GeM can be integrated with State payment system. He said that the DGSD is also willing to provide handholding support to the State Government officials in this regard.
GeM Director Aman Sharma is coordinating with the State Government officials and will extend all-out support for using the GeM for their requirements, informed Kumar.