New Delhi: Management of Kendriya Bhandar led by its Chairperson Smt Poonam Rawat and Managing Director Shri R.K. Singh held a meeting here today with Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh and provided an update about their recent achievements and profits in the market and also put across some of their pending issues.
Speaking after the briefing, Dr Jitendra Singh said that Kendriya Bhandar has a history of its own and was set up about half-a-century ago with a specific purpose and also to provide necessary items of consumption at reasonable and economic rates compared to the open market. However, he said that with the change in market dynamics over the years, as well as, with flooding of market with wide choice of consumer items, the Kendriya Bhandar also would have to move forward with a more innovative and imaginative approach in order to maintain itself as a viable unit.
Shri R.K. Singh informed the Minister that the Kendriya Bhandar had succeeded in containing the prices of pulses / Dal in Delhi by selling Arahar, Channa and Urad Dal through its 101 retail stores at a rate lower than the prevailing market price, with the assistance of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. He also claimed that in the financial year of 2015-16, Kendriya Bhandar had achieved an appreciably high turnover exceeding Rs. 1000 crores.
The Board Members of Kendriya Bhandar requested Dr Jitendra Singh for his intervention to settle some of the long pending issues like, for example, Government accommodation for them and restoration of Office Memorandum of Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) for supply of stationery and other items.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that there were some issues involved in allowing the supply of stationery and some other items through Kendriya Bhandar outlets and said that he would welcome suggestions and alternatives to work out a viable option which would also be financially and economically beneficial for Kendriya Bhandar, as well as, the Government of India. He advised the Board Members to submit a detail of their observations which could be subject to thorough examination by DoPT.
