No government took interest in reforming the procurement process for Central Government organizations. Each organization had over a time period doctored specification and changed it to suit own requirements guided by the ‘third parties’. The ‘system’ was projected as flawless since change did not suit anyone.
The truth was that any tinkering with the system would stop the flow of additional income to those sitting on the chair and the ‘Second” and “Third’ parties.
The ‘third parties’ of fake manufacturers, agents, resellers, commission agents, middlemen, representatives and such other traders duly supported by entire chain of procurement consisting of clerks, officers, head of the organizations and the parallel financial advisors and pay and account offices supported the system since each had a ‘cut’.
The percentages were so well known that one never had to ask how much was to be given. It was well known and accepted.
The ‘Second Parties” were responsible for changeover to GeM. They were simply not interested.
The Central Government organizations resisted the change and swamped GeM (Government e-Marketplace) with problems, blamed GeM for no supplies, pressurized GeM to permit them to ‘tender’ etc. They did everything possible at each level to discredit GeM. Month after month passed by and the “Second Parties” assumed that the Central Government would relent and scrap GeM.
GeM (Government e-Marketplace) was there to stay. Government supported GeM and let it take time to embed completely. It was the determination of the Government, resolute CEO of GeM supported by the staff that GeM crossed hurdles one by one.
Author:
Col.(Retd) Sanjay Pande(Managing Director, Kshemin Global)
Combat veteran, spent 25 years in the Indian Army. Post retirement, founded Kshemin in 2012. Kshemin Technologies develops products for ‘Frontline Combat Casualty Management’ and Kshemin Global helps clients sell their products and services to the Government.
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