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Ensure participation of locals in new catering policy: Medha Patkar

Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar has demanded that the Railway Ministry ensures larger participation of local persons while announcing the new catering policy.

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With Union Rail Budget less than a week away, social activist and Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar has demanded that the Railway Ministry ensures larger participation of local persons while announcing the new catering policy.

"The present catering policy being implemented by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) leads to monopolisation in tendering process. In the revised policy, this needs to be checked to ensure broader participation of
local persons in the process," Patkar said.
 
Though it is not certain whether Union railway minister Mamata Banerjee would announce the new catering policy in the Rail Budget or not, it is expected anytime now, railway sources said.
       
Patkar alleged that in the present catering policy, vested persons quote inflated rates to delay the process and to corner favour from the officials concerned.

"The 1999-2000 policy was good as it ascertained broader participation of locals, but the present policy (2004-05) has many loopholes causing hardship to passengers as they are not getting quality food under it," she said.
       
A railway contractor who wished not to be quoted said, "In view of the railway minister reviewing the present catering policy and likely announcement of the new one, the Railway Board had directed the IRCTC not to invite any new tenders for major catering units and withhold allotment of fresh licences until issue of fresh policy directives by the Railway Board."

But, IRCTC Bhopal issued advertisement for alloting catering stalls, trolleys in the A and B category stations through tendering process to favour few contractors in December 2009 and January this year, he alleged.
       
However, IRCTC's chief regional manager, Virendra Singh said that Railway Board has not issued any directives in writing that fresh tenders cannot be called.
       
Singh said that the railway minister is working on the new catering policy and it may come out anytime.
       
The railway minister while presenting a White Paper on Indian Railways in December 2009 said, "there are also issues regarding the cornering of catering licences by a few operators. In order to promote equity and broader participation in the award of catering licences, there is a need for a comprehensive review of the system."
       
Patkar also demanded rehabilitation of people who were removed from railway stations under the present policy.
       
"The job of the railways is not just profit-making, but also to provide employment opportunities to as many people as possible," Patkar added.

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