Health Minister clarifies on gold ring scheme tender
The Kerala Health Minister clarified that a one-paise tender bid by Joyalukkas for a gold ring scheme was a goodwill gesture rather than a profit-driven move. The government awarded the contract to Joyalukkas and Kalyan Jewellers, expecting to save significant public funds through the transparent process.
Why it matters
The clarification addresses public controversy regarding government procurement transparency and the ethics of corporate bidding in social welfare schemes.
Joyalukkas, which quoted one paise and emerged as the lowest bidder for supplying one-gram gold rings under the “Thaimamam Thanga Mothiram Thittam” said it had no profit motive and was doing so as a goodwill gesture, Health Minister K.G. Arunraj said on Monday.
The bid amount of one paise sparked a controversy a few days ago, prompting the Health Department to issue a press release stating that work orders have been issued to Joyalukkas and Kalyan Jewellers, which agreed to match the quoted price, in a 70:30 ratio for the scheme.
Seeking to clarify the issue, the Minister said there are two components in the scheme - one being the gold price and the other being charges including making charges, for packing, transportation, insurance, and BIS hallmarking. The tender was floated not for the gold rate but the other component (additional charges), he said.
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