NEW DELHI: A Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandar order that on Friday delisted over 1,000 products sold at central police forces canteens after classifying them as “purely imported”, was withdrawn after the home ministry found many of the delisted items to be Made-in-India.
The “purely imported” items delisted by the May 29 KPKB order included ‘Real’ fruit juice made by Dabur India; electronic items manufactured by Samsung, LG and Philips that have facilities in India and domestic companies like Havells, Bajaj, Wipro and Godrej; luggage items manufactured by VIP and Safari; sewing machines produced by Usha International; Nilkamal furniture; and Sleepwell blankets manufactured by a domestic company founded by the former BJP MP Sheela Gautam.
CRPF DG A P Maheshwari on Monday said that order issued by KPKB chief, suppposedly in deference to the home ministry’s decision to sell only swadeshi goods through police/paramilitary canteens, was erroneous. He said that the KPKB CEO did not consult senior officers, and that action has been initiated into the lapse.
Signed by KPKB CEO R M Meena, the order split products into three categories — those purely Made in India, those manufactured/assembled in India with imported raw materials, and purely imported products — “on the sole basis of information submitted by the firms”. It further said while the first two category of products would continue to be sold at police canteens, the third category, which comprised 1,026 products, would be delisted from KPKB inventory with effect from June 1, 2020. Supplies of some other products whose information was not provided by the supplier/manufacturer as asked for, was also stopped with immediate effect.
CAPF canteens do an estimated business of several thousands of crores by selling products to around 50 lakh family members of nearly 10 lakh paramilitary/police personnel.
While the list of firms importing all products as put out in the May 29 order included Red Bull India; Ferrero India Pvt Ltd that makes Nutella and Kinder Joy; Skechers (sports shoes); and Victorinox India Pvt Ltd, etc, products whose supplies were stopped for want of information included Maharaja Whiteline electronics, Allen Cooper apparel and Red Tape shoes.
According to sources in the home ministry, this is the third time that a lapse by KPKB — involving issue of orders by the CEO relating to sale of “swadeshi” products without due clearance by the seniors — has been noticed. There is a suspicion that the errors may not be inadvertent ,but deliberate, and hence a direction was issued by the MHA brass on Monday for initiating action against the officer. Sources did not rule out his being replaced.
“The delisting was initiated by KPKB CEO without following due process or taking approval from the senior. Many products that were delisted are very much Made in India and that is why the order has been withdrawn. Earlier too he had issued such unilateral orders relating to the decision to sell only ‘swadeshi’ items via KPKB outlets. This has been taken serious note of and action initiated,” said a home ministry officer.