Days for below poverty line (BPl) families may see a turnaround soon when they will sport dhotis and saris supplied by noted fabric manufacturing brand Mafatlal. The company that has clocked revenue to the tune of Rs 840.38 crore during 2012-13 has qualified as the lowest bidder for supplying the attire, promised to about 35 lakh poor families of the State.
The Pioneer has got access to the decision in which the company along with another had faired for financial bid on Friday last. After evaluating their tender documents the Department of Food, Consumer Affairs and Civil Supplies shortlisted Mafatlal for the ambitious scheme, announced by Chief Minister Hemant Soren in November, 2013. “The tender has been finalised last week and the scheme would be formally launched in a week time. We will issue work order thereafter,” said Dr Pradeep Kumar, Secretary of the Department.
Hemant Soren while taking a cue from his predecessor Arjun Munda had announced the provision for BPl families of the State. The Department had even made provision of Rs 176 crore through Supplementary Budget during the Winter Session of the Assembly which aimed to provide a pair of dhoti-sari at Rs 10 each to 35 lakh families living below poverty line in Jharkhand twice in a year. However, the families are estimated to sheltering more than 1.3 crore persons; i.e. 40 per cent of the entire population.
The clothes, considered basic and crucial for a large number of populace of Jharkhand, would be made available through public distribution system (PDS) centres and panchayats. As per original list and that recognised by the Centre, Jharkhand has 24 lakh BPl families but the State Government on its part has added 11.44 lakh more such families couple of years ago after a fresh survey.
As per the provisions, the selected bidder would sign an agreement with the Government to supply the clothes to panchayat level before being distributed among the families. “The provision caused dropping the participants from 20-odd for the technical bidding to just two for the financial bidding,” said a senior official of the Department. As against the price of Rs 10, actual price of a dhoti and sari would cost the State above Rs 500.
Sources privy to the development also added that the scheme has been put on a fast track mode at the behest of the Chief Minister and also due it being an election year. “The CM is extremely interested about the scheme. As after one month or so, notification for lok Sabha polls is expected to be issued which would have made rolling out the scheme impossible,” said the official.