Port Blair, Feb. 14: GeMSamvad, a National outreach programme for buyer and sellers was organized by GeM, Ministry of Commerce Government of India in association with Department of Finance, Department of Industries and Department of IT A & N Administration in the Conference Hall of Auditorium, DBRAIT, Pahargaon here today. The Principal Secretary (Fin.), Shri Vikram Dev Dutt as the chief guest inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp. The Secretary (IT/Inds), Dr. Pooja Joshi, the Secretary, Finance, Shri Sanjeev Kumar Mittal and Shri H.R.Sharma, Additional CEO, GeM were present on the occasion.
In his address on the occasion, the Principal Secretary (Fin) expressed his happiness about the conduct of the GeMSamvad, national outreach programme for buyers and sellers in these Islands too. He stated that implementing GeM in A & N Islands was really a challenge. Despite various challenges, the procurement through GeM has been encouraging, he said adding that 50 Departments/ PSUs have already been registered in GeM with 269 users (Buyers/ Consignee) and about 280 sellers from A&N Islands were also registered in GeM. The total procurement through GeM was approximately 25.4 crores as against a target of Rs 45 crore given by Ministry of Commerce for the year 2019-2020 against the last years procurement through GeM which was around 12 crore.
The Principal Secretary further said that the connectivity issues will be resolved with the implementation of Chennai-Andaman and Nicobar Islands (CANI) Submarine Cable project in another two to three months. Once the Cable project is completed, the officials can effectively use the GeM portal in public procurement. He thanked Shri H.R.Sharma, Addl. CEO, GeM and Shri A.V.Muralidharan, Deputy CEO and team for coming all the way from New Delhi to conduct the Training and GeM Samvad. He also urged one and all present to take full advantage of the Training / GeM Samvad session by raising relevant and important queries, doubts and problems faced by them in performing operation through GeM Portal so that they can effectively use the GeM portal in public procurement.
In her address, the Secretary (IT/Inds), Dr. Pooja Joshi expressed her happiness for good participation from the officials in the Out Reach Programme- GeM Samvaad and said such participation encourages the IT Department to work more in bringing the IT and Finance works, in order to facilitate the entire exercise of purchase and sale. This is an attempt to ensure that there should not be any hesitation while purchasing through computers and also an attempt to bring the option of friendly GeM to you, she added .
Speaking on the occasion, Shri H.R.Sharma, Additional CEO, GeM informed about the sessions covered for the buyers and sellers in last two days which covered various steps involved in GeM purchase. The major advantage of GeM for the buyers is the reduction in procurement cycle and procurement can take place in shortest possible time, he added.
The Special Secretary IT, Shri Utpal Sharma proposed the word of thanks at the inaugural session.
Later, Shri H R Sharma, Addl. CEO, GeM, Shri A V Muralidharan, Deputy CEO, GeM and Shri Sheik Nizamuddeen, Business Facilitator, GeM conducted the outreach programme. The issues and problems faced by the buyers/sellers were also discussed and clarified.
The outreach programme for Buyers/ Government Department/ Central Government Organizations/PSUs / autonomous institutions was organized in the morning session while it was conducted for sellers /vendors registered as well as aspirants / MSMEs/ Handicrafts units/ artisans / service providers such as manpower supply agency, security services providing agency, house-keeping services agency, vehicle hiring services etc. in the afternoon session.