Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged state chief ministers to use the Government e-Market platform to reduce corruption and increase transparency in government procurement. Speaking at the Niti Aayog's Governing Council meeting, “The Prime Minister called upon States to use the GeM platform, Government e-Marketplace, to reduce corruption and increase transparency in Government procurement. He said the use of technologies such as BHIM and Aadhaar would result in significant savings for the states.”
The move came after the Congress party said six BJP MPs had written letters to Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, suggesting that the portal is “creating corruption, lacks mechanism to act against defaulters, is being used or can be used by a handful of people to mint money and that products are being bought at prices more than the rate contract.”
The MPs had expressed apprehension that some people could use the portal for making quick money, causing a loss in billion to the exchequer. The Congress also demanded a probe into the whole affair, saying it is a test for PM Modi who always says he will not let corruption survive. Granted approval by the Union Cabinet, the Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals launched the GeM platform in August.
According to information sourced from the GeM portal, there are 2,258 buyers listed on the platform. There are 5,455 sellers and 174 service providers enrolled with the marketplace. The platform was launched in August, and allowed government departments and agencies to make direct purchases of up to Rs 50,000. Beyond this, purchases were to be made through price comparison, bidding or reverse auction. Through the portal, the government would be able to consolidate its requirements across the board and be able to seek better offers from vendors involving bulk purchases
