The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), in its endeavor to enhance and ensure transparency, equity and competitiveness in public procurement, has suggested implementation of an Integrity Pact programme in major procurement activities in major Public Sector Undertakings.
In order to implement the said programme, the Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. (SCI) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Transparency International India, at New Delhi this morning. The pact was signed by Mr. S. Hajara, Chairman &Managing Director of SCI - a Navaratana PSU and Adml. (Retd) R H Tahiliani of TII at a brief ceremony held at Maple Hall, India Habitat Center, Lodhi Road, New Delhi.
Shri Sudhir Kumar, IPS (Retd), Vigilance Commissioner was the Chief Guest. Shri A.P.V.N. Sarma, IAS, Secretary (Shipping) and Mrs. Ranjana Kumar, Vigilance Commissioner were the Guests of Honour. Apart from the Board of Directors of SCI, the senior officials from the Ministry, CVC, TII were also present. Major vendors of SCI were also represented.
With the signing of this pact, SCI has become the 37th Public Sector Undertaking in the country to adopt the pact, committing to have most ethical and corruption free business dealings with the counterparties whether they are bidders, contractors or suppliers. Earlier, several PSUs including Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), HPCL, GAIL, Coal India, Oil India, RNIL (Vishakhapatnam), Steel Authority of India Limited, BPCL, Indian Oil, Airports Authority, MTNL, RITES have signed this pact..
Integrity Pact is a tool developed by Berlin-based Transparency Int’l for enhancing the degree of fairness and transparency in procurement and contracts, resulting in substantial improvement in the systems and reduction in corruption in public dealings. It will go a long way in enhancing the image of the organisations as well as the nation. Its implementation is observed by the Independent External Monitors (IEMs) of impeccable integrity, appointed by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). SCI has three eminent persons as its IEMs. They are
(a) Shri D.T. Joseph (IAS:68) Former Secretary (Shipping)
(b) Shri Sudesh Punhani, Functional Director (Retd), Air India
(c) Shri S.K. Singh Former MD, State Bank of Saurashtra
The SCI’s scope or ambit is very wide. The SCI Management has decided to keep the threshold value to Rs 1 crore only so that any contract of Rs 1 crore and above will be having the Integrity Pact as a pre-bid document. In this way, SCI has ensured that not only the very high stake holders but even the common vendors would be assured of the transparent and ethical practices in SCI.