The Uttar Pradesh government claimed that the purchase of sweaters for students of state-run schools was going on in a transparent manner through GeM portal because of which it was able to procure good quality product at cheap rate and save money.
“Purchase of sweaters is complete in 51 districts and in some districts even distribution has started. So far, over 10 lakh sweaters have been distributed,” a government spokesman said in a statement issued in Lucknow on Friday.
The spokesman said that after the government decision to provide free sweaters to students, tenders were floated through the GeM portal and the government set a price of Rs 200 per sweater.
“Because of the GeM portal, the government is able to procure good quality sweaters at cheaper rate,” he said.
Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is a one stop portal to facilitate online procurement of common use goods and services required by various government departments, organisations/ PSUs. The GeM aims to enhance transparency, efficiency and speed in public procurement.
The government issued an order on August 16 regarding purchase of sweaters for students of state-run schools and the sweaters were to be distributed in 1.6 lakh schools by October 31. Around 1.57 crore students are likely to be benefited. Some reports said that many students had failed to get sweaters even after the prescribed limit.
