Rajasthan Assembly Orders Probe Into Tribal Hostel Food Procurement Irregularities

Rajasthan Assembly Orders Probe Into Tribal Hostel Food Procurement Irregularities

In a dramatic session of the Rajasthan Assembly on Wednesday, Speaker Vasudev Devnani directed the state government to conduct a thorough investigation into alleged irregularities in the procurement of food items for government-run tribal hostels. The directive came after sharp exchanges during Question Hour, highlighting concerns over bypassing procurement norms and significant price variations.

Allegations of Bypassing Tender Norms

Raising the issue, Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully alleged that procurement norms were blatantly violated by granting purchasing powers to hostel wardens instead of inviting tenders for purchases exceeding Rs 50,000. "How can purchases above Rs 50,000 be made without a tender process? This opens the door to corruption," Jully asserted. He pointed to specific examples, noting variations in ghee prices across different hostels—Rs 800, Rs 550, and Rs 408 per litre—which he argued indicate large-scale irregularities. "Such wide differences clearly indicate large-scale irregularities. A detailed probe is necessary," Jully added, demanding accountability.

Congress MLA Highlights Discrepancies in Billing

The matter was brought to light while Tribal Area Development Minister Babulal Kharadi was replying to supplementary questions raised by Congress MLA Arjun Singh Bamaniya. Bamaniya alleged discrepancies in billing and questioned the lack of tender processes. "There are different rates in different hostels. I have the bills. Why were tenders not issued?" he asked, pressing the minister for transparency in procurement practices.

Minister's Response and Explanation

In response to the allegations, Minister Babulal Kharadi provided an explanation for the procurement methods. He stated, "The department directed hostels to procure food items from cooperative consumer stores. However, after two months, the cooperative stores expressed their inability to supply ration on time." To ensure uninterrupted meals for students, hostels were compelled to purchase food items from the open market, according to Kharadi. This move, while intended to prevent disruptions, raised further questions about adherence to procurement guidelines.

Speaker's Intervention and Directive

As exchanges grew heated between opposition members and the minister, Speaker Vasudev Devnani intervened to restore order. He directed the minister to ensure a comprehensive investigation into the entire matter. "Please ensure a thorough investigation into the entire matter so that any irregularity is identified and such incidents do not occur in the future," Devnani stated, emphasizing the need for accountability and preventive measures.

Implications and Next Steps

The investigation ordered by the Speaker is expected to scrutinize:

• The bypassing of tender processes for purchases above Rs 50,000.
• The significant price variations in food items like ghee across hostels.
• The role of hostel wardens in procurement decisions.
• The overall procurement practices in tribal hostels to ensure compliance with norms.

This development underscores ongoing concerns about governance and transparency in public procurement, particularly in schemes aimed at marginalized communities. The outcome of the probe could lead to policy revisions and stricter enforcement of procurement rules to prevent future irregularities.