Maya scores with SC/ST quota in govt contracts

The UP governments scheme of 23 per cent reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in contracts worth up...

The UP governments scheme of 23 per cent reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in contracts worth up to Rs 5 lakh became operational on August 1. In the first two months after the scheme was started,the number of contracts awarded to SC/ST contractors was almost the same as were awarded in the previous four months.

In April,May,June and July four months of the current financial year before the scheme was introduced 1,202 contracts were awarded to SCs and STs contractors. In August and September,when the scheme was in force,the number of contracts awarded to SCs/STs was 1,190,official sources said. In fact,the total number of contacts awarded in the current year so far has already exceeded the target for the entire year.

It was estimated that the state would have a total of 5,576 contracts of value up to Rs 5 lakh in the current financial year,of which a minimum of 1,393 contracts were to be given to SCs and STs. However,by September-end,5,344 contracts had been awarded of which 2,392 went to SCs and ST contractors.

Official sources said the figure was more than 23 per cent of the total because many SC and ST contractors had got contracts without the benefit of reservation.

The scheme is showing excellent results, said Tribhuvan Ram,Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department who is the nodal officer for its implementation.

The fact that the target has been achieved does not mean that there are going to be no more contracts for the SCs and STs in the current year. Officials said there would be more contracts as and when more sanctions come from the government and more funds are made available.

The scheme was announced by Chief Minister Mayawati after the BSPs poor show in the Lok Sabha elections. Although the government order was issued on June 30,it took officials one month to work out the modalities.

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The immediate problem was that most departments and government establishments did not have many contracts worth Rs 5 lakh or less,known as E category contract. Officials were,therefore,told to split the works wherever possible to create new E category contracts. Simultaneously,SC and ST contractors were encouraged to register themselves to get the benefit under the scheme. Officials say until August 31,670 new SC/ST contractors had got registered with various government departments.

Initially,there were doubts about the success of the scheme and it was probably for this reason that the target of contracts to be awarded this year was fixed low. PWD Chief Engineer Sushil Kumar said targets are fixed keeping in mind the sanctions and availability of funds at any point of time. It happens every year that the initial target is achieved early and the department keeps revising the target as funds come from the government, Kumar said.