Quota in govt contracts a hit,target achieved

From April to July — four months of the current financial year,before the scheme was introduced — as many as 1,202 contracts were awarded to SC and ST contractors. But in August and September,when the scheme was in force,1,190 contracts were awarded to SC and ST contractors,said official sources.

The total number of contracts awarded in the current financial year so far has already exceeded the target for the entire year. It was estimated that the state would have 5,576 contracts — upto Rs 5 lakh — in the current financial year,of which a minimum of 1,393 contracts were to be given to SCs and STs.

By September-end,as many as 5,344 contracts had been awarded of which 2,392 went to SC and ST contractors.

According to sources,more than 23 per cent benefited,as many SC and ST contractors received contracts without the benefit of the reservation.

“The scheme is showing excellent results,” said Tribhuvan Ram,Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department and the nodal officer.

The fact that the target has been achieved does not mean that no more contracts will be awarded to the SCs and STs in the current year. Officials said there will be more contracts,as more sanctions come from the government and more funds become available.

The scheme was announced by Chief Minister Mayawati after the BSP’s poor show in the Lok Sabha elections. Though the government order was issued on June 30,officials took a month to work out the modalities of the scheme.

The immediate problem was that most departments and did not have many contracts worth Rs 5 lakh or less — known as E category contract. Officials were told to split work wherever possible to create new E category contracts. Simultaneously,SC and ST contractors were encouraged to register themselves to get the benefit of the scheme.

Initially,there were doubts about its success and that was probably why the target was fixed low. The PWD Chief Engineer Sushil Kumar,however,denied this possibility.

According to him,targets are fixed keeping in mind the sanctions and availability of funds at any point of time. “Every year,the initial target is achieved early and the department then keeps revising the target as funds come from the government,” said Kumar.

Till August 31,670 new SC/ST contractors got registered with various government departments,including PWD,Rural Engineering Services,various development authorities and municipal bodies among others.