The Indian Express           16.11.2013

PMC seeks panel nod to skip tenders in buying goods from women groups

To encourage women self-help groups, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has sought the approval of the standing committee for skipping tender process and directly buy goods worth less than Rs 3 lakh directly from these self-help groups.

In a proposal tabled in the standing committee, the civic administration said that the PMC has a policy of empowering women by promoting the sale of products prepared by women of self-help groups. In 2003, the PMC had passed a resolution to purchase products for office use from these self-help groups. With tender process a must for this purpose, this scheme could not be implemented in practice.

Products such as files, folders, school bags, brooms are used in civic offices in large numbers. These are also prepared by women self-help groups.

To avoid misuse of power while procuring goods from these groups, it has been mandatory to take a no objection certificate for the purchases from the central stores department of the PMC.