From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, May 4: Norms for the procurement of bicycles for free distribution to students in government and aided high schools in rural areas of Karnataka have been tightened.

The free bicycle scheme for government and aided high school students has come under the scanner following reports that many other states implementing similar schemes have been procuring bicycles at much lower rates than in Karnataka resulting in the State Cabinet deciding to tighten the tender conditions for procurement of  bicycles. 

The State Cabinet, which reviewed the entire scheme at its meeting on Wednesday, took decision to ensure that the tender conditions for procuring bicycles from the manufacturers were tightened to reduce the financial burden.
Karnataka had procured about 5.50 lakh bicycles at a price of Rs 3,650 per bicycle.

But, bicycles under similar scheme in Rajasthan have been procured at a price of Rs 2780, Himachal Pradesh at Rs 2621 and West Bengal at Rs 3200. 

The State Cabinet discussed the issue at length, especially the disparity and decided to impose more stringent tender conditions on price and quality of the bicycles to ensure that the bicycles are purchased at the most competitive price compared to other states.

The State Cabinet expressed concern at the "excess price" being paid over the years after the scheme which was introduced in 2006-07. 

"We have decided to amend the Tender Conditions to prevent cartelization in tendering process and get the bicycles at a price on par with the lowest price at which they are supplied in other states," Higher Education minister T B Jayachandra said briefing the reporters.

Energy from Solid Waste Processing:

In another decision, the State Cabinet approved a proposal for signing an MoU with Netherland based M/s Nexus Novus company for setting up of a solid waste processing plant to generate energy from the garbage. 

The company would be provided 9.30 acres of land at a lease price of Rs 100 per acre per year for 20 years at Bellalli village near Yelahanka, the minister said.

Panel to Oversee BBMP tendering process:

The frequent glitches and delay in tendering process connected with civic works coming under BBMP financial domain, has forced the state government to constitute an exclusive empowered committee headed by the Chief Secretary of the state to oversee the tendering process.

The State Cabinet gave its nod for setting up of the committee which would scrutinise and oversee the tender process and also ensure better inter-departmental coordination to ensure speedy and quality implementation of projects.

Special Rules to benefit Contract Labourers:

He said the State Cabinet also decided to come out with special rules to prevent exploitation of contract workers engaged in various civic bodies in the state. 

Presently the workers, who number more than 32,000, were facing problems of getting low salary, irregular payment of salary and lack of labour welfare benefits.

The proposed special rules would enable the government open accounts for them and credit the salary directly to their account, ensure prompt payment of salary in time every month and also ensure welfare programmes like financial aid for the education of their children, Jayachandra said.

These workers would be slowly absorbed as regular employees while recruiting the staff in future, he said.