MLA Saryu Roy has urged Chief Minister Hemant Soren to initiate a comprehensive investigation into alleged irregularities in the procurement and distribution of 9,20,245 blankets intended for the poor across Jharkhand. The blankets were procured for the financial year 2024-25 and were to be distributed across all 24 districts of the state.
In his letter to the Chief Minister, Roy revealed that the supply order was awarded to two entities: Om Shakti Textiles, Panipat, Haryana, and Bihari Lal Chaudhary Tradelink Private Limited, Dhanbad. The deadline for completing the supply was January 11, 2025, but distribution remains incomplete despite being underway.
The tender mandated that all blankets be produced using handloom techniques. However, reports indicate that power loom techniques were used, violating the tender’s terms.
The blankets were required to have 70% woollen thread and 30% synthetic thread. Contrary to this, investigations suggest that most blankets contain only 35-40% wool, with synthetic components reportedly made from recycled materials instead of the specified new polyester.
Each blanket was required to weigh at least two kilograms after washing. Many distributed blankets reportedly fall short of this standard.
Roy alleged breaches in the tender evaluation process. Financial bids were reportedly assessed before technical evaluations, which violates standard procurement protocols.
This year, blanket procurement was centralized at the state level to enhance quality and saw an increase in the per-blanket price by ₹75-100 compared to last year. However, the centralized process has failed to ensure adherence to tender conditions, leading to a decline in quality.
Reports suggest that suppliers are delivering two types of blankets: approximately 10% meet tender specifications, while 90% do not. This tactic appears to exploit the sampling process, as inspections often draw samples from the compliant 10%.
Roy has urged the Chief Minister to take immediate steps to investigate these irregularities. He suggested collecting blanket samples from rural areas in all districts for quality testing to ensure compliance with tender specifications. Furthermore, he called for legal action against those found guilty based on the test results.
