₹84-Lakh Sanitary Napkin Tender in Ahilyanagar Sparks Controversy; Questions Raised Over Specifications and Transparency

Ahilyanagar (Maharashtra)
The Zilla Parishad, already under public scrutiny over past procurement issues, now faces a new controversy surrounding the ₹84-lakh sanitary napkin purchase under the Women and Child Welfare Department.

Tender Under Question

The tender, floated on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal, involves the purchase of 15 lakh sanitary napkin pieces (in packs of six).
However, traders allege that the technical specifications favor a specific manufacturer, limiting competition and potentially driving prices above the market rate.

Infotech Solutions, a local registered company, has lodged an official online complaint with District CEO Anand Bhandari, demanding that:

the tender be withdrawn,

amended specifications be re-issued, and

all registered vendors be allowed fair participation.

Allegations of Restricted Participation

Despite several legally registered suppliers on the GeM portal offering relevant sanitary products, complainants claim that their listings do not appear under the tender’s eligible product list.
This has, according to sources, limited competition and raised doubts about transparency and fairness in the bidding process.

GeM’s procurement guidelines mandate competitive participation to ensure transparency, but the current setup allegedly restricts qualified vendors from bidding.

Demands by Local Vendors

Vendors have urged the Zilla Parishad to:

amend category specifications to ensure open competition,

re-issue the tender with inclusive terms, and

ensure compliance with fair and legal procurement principles.

They argue that these steps would ensure transparent, neutral, and lawful procurement for the Women and Child Welfare Department.

Administration’s Response

Officials from the Women and Child Welfare Department defended the process, stating that:

“The specifications were determined by a technical committee based on market rates. No eligible vendor is being excluded intentionally. The product quality will be verified through lab testing before acceptance.”

District CEO Anand Bhandari added:

“If any complaint has been made, I will personally look into it. The process will remain fully transparent and in accordance with procurement rules.”

Summary Insight

The controversy has reignited debate over transparency and inclusivity in government procurement, especially in welfare-related tenders.
Local businesses continue to press for fairer opportunities and more accountability from administrative authorities.