A scam of ₹10 crore has come to light in purchasing bicycles for girls under the Saraswati Sadhana Yojana in Gujarat. Despite the bicycles being supplied by the same company in both Rajasthan and Gujarat, the state of Gujarat paid Rs 500 more per bicycle.
Opposition leader in the State Assembly Amit Chavda has alleged that no investigation or action has been taken against any government official or minister involved.
Under the Saraswati Sadhana Yojana, aimed at promoting girls’ education, the social justice and empowerment department of the BJP government, along with the tribal development department, provides bicycles to girls studying in class 9 to aid their commute to school. Bicycles purchased in the previous year are reported to be lying idle in open warehouses.
In the fiscal year 2023-24, the Gujarat Government decided to purchase 1.70 lakh bicycles under the ‘Saraswati Sadhana Yojana’, through the state-owned venture Gujarat Rural Industries Marketing Corporation Ltd. (Grimco). Usually, the State Purchase Committee (SPC) assesses the specifications and conditions of the bicycles before procurement. However, this time, the process was altered to favour certain companies.
Chavda alleged that despite objections and complaints, the Chief Minister’s Office directly interfered in the procurement process, bypassing the SPC so that many companies could get the contract.
It has been observed that the same company supplied bicycles at a price of Rs. 3857 in Rajasthan, but charged Rs. 4444 per bicycle in Gujarat. Consequently, Gujarat paid ₹500 more per cycle, resulting in an excess expenditure of ₹8.50 crore for the 1.70 lakh bicycles. Moreover, the procurement process, initially scheduled for 2023, has been delayed by 10 months, affecting the timely distribution of bicycles to the students in need.
Grimco received the work order and the bicycles were delivered in April 2024. However, upon inspection by the Electronic Quality Development Center (EQDC), the bicycles failed to meet the specified quality standards. This discrepancy highlights the lack of quality control and adherence to specifications.
However, during the tender process, Grimco raised bids that were ₹587 higher than the price in Rajasthan and ₹452 higher than the price in West Bengal. The Eleven Company, which supplied the bicycles, failed to provide a satisfactory justification for this price difference. Despite concerns, the government did not cancel the bid.
The Congress party has alleged widespread corruption in the bicycle procurement process, implicating the Chief Minister’s Office. The people of Gujarat deserve transparency and accountability, he said. Meanwhile, last year’s bicycles remain elusive for the girls who were meant to benefit from this well-intentioned scheme.
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