16 states opt for Centre’s e-procurement platform

NEW DELHI: At least 16 states have started moving to the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), the Centre’s online public procurement platform, even as PM Narendra Modi on Sunday exhorted them to use the newly-established web tool to cut down on corruption.

The statement comes amid allegations of corruption on GeM by the Congress, a charge that the government is stoutly refuting. Sources told TOIthat states such as Madhya Pradesh have already issued orders to use the portal and Rajasthan is expected to follow suit. Others such as Maharashtra, Haryana and Assam are expected to move in the direction soon, with opposition-ruled Odisha and Karnataka also expected to join.

States such as Bihar have used the online platform for aggregation of orders for smartphone purchase in a bid to get the best price in a transparent fashion. The Centre has already made it mandatory to use GeM, which was born out of a recommendation from a panel of secretaries to the PM.

Currently, there are 5,454 sellers and 174 service providers on GeM with the numbers expected to go up. Government sources rubbished suggestions of sellers inflating rates.

On Friday, Congress leader

Randeep Surjewala

had said that some lawmakers had pointed to instances when products were procured at prices higher than the rate contract, with laptops and paper shredders cited as examples. Sources said in both cases, pricing was dependent on the specifications even if the manufacturer was the same. “The online procurement system has actually helped clamp down on higher prices being quoted in rate contracts,” said a source, adding that in case of medical equipment and software, rates were often two-three times higher until GeM came into the picture. They, however, acknowledged that there were some problems with electric meters but the higher prices that were quoted were spotted before purchases were made. “New tools are being added to increase the sophistication of the platform,” a source said.