Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 1: Minister of State for Cooperatives, Stationary and Printing, Fisheries, Finance and Planning, Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma on Friday inaugurated newly constructed building of the Assistant Director, Stationery and Office Supplies Depot at Kachi Chawni.
The building was constructed by PWD at a cost of Rs. 92.3 lakh.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma said that Stationery and Office Supplies Department is playing a vital role in providing best quality stationery and other office related items to the State Government Departments including Civil Secretariat at cheaper rates thereby saving both time and exchequer of the State Government.
The Minister said that the building being situated at the prime location of old Jammu city is approachable and convenient to the other Government Departments to collect the stationery and other office related material.
The Minister said that earlier department was procuring paper/paper products and stationery articles after floating tenders at national level and now for the financial year 2014-15, the department is adopting e-tendering to bring more transparency and accountability in procurement of quality items. He said that efforts are being made to reorganize and strengthen the department and asked the employees of Stationery and Office Supplies Department to work with dedication and commitment in order to deliver better services.
Dr. Sharma informed that new Sub-Stationery Depots would also be set up in newly created districts so that district administration of these districts could get stationery related products at cheap rates at their doorsteps. The Minister said that funds have been released to renovate the old existing Stationery and Office Supplies depots at Kachi Chowni so that work of the depot may not suffer.
Earlier, Director Stationery and Office Supplies Department, Manisha Devi Sharma briefed in detail about the functioning of the department.
The employees also put forth their demands which include amendment of SRO 365, combining of seniority and creation of additional posts. The Minister gave them patient hearing and assured that their demands would be given due consideration at concerned quarters.
Special Secretary, ARI, Stationery and Printing, Peerzada Hafiz Ullah Shah, Joint Director Information, Smita Sethi, General Manager SRTC, R.S. Jamwal, Assistant Director (Central), Khilari Lal, GM, Government Ranbir Printing Press besides senior officers of various departments were also present on the occasion.