6 lakh CSC and India Post offices to assist last-mile govt buyers, sellers with GeM portal

New Delhi, May 19 (KNN) About 4.5 lakh CSC and 1.5 lakh India Post offices across India will be trained to assist last-mile government buyers, sellers and service providers regarding the GeM portal, under an MoU signed between Government e-marketplace (GeM), CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd. (CSC-SPV), and Department of Posts.

The partnership between the three bodies aims for the advocacy, outreach, mobilization and capacity-building of last-mile government buyers, sellers and service providers in public procurement.

The agreement was conceived after the successful integration of GeM and India Post on May 5 which has made buyers, sellers and service-providers to avail the logistics services and facilities over GeM through the India Post facilities located in the remotest parts of India.  

Its objective is to benefit stakeholders such as Local Bodies, Panchayati Raj institutions, among others and under-served seller groups in rural areas; namely women, khadi and tribal entrepreneurs, micro, small enterprises (MSE), self-help groups (SHGs), Startups, artisans and weavers etc.

Value-added services such as photography of product images, packaging, logistics and shipment of packages through Speed Post and Business Parcel, through India Post website, online, print and office communication channels will also be delivered at charges defined by CSC and Department of Posts.

GeM Services offered through CSCs and India Post Offices will be made available to all Govt buyers, sellers and service providers at no charge. 

The MoU was signed by PK Singh, CEO, GeM, Sanjay Kumar Rakesh, CEO, CSC-SPV and Ajay Kumar Roy, Chief General Manager, Parcel Directorate, Department of Posts in New Delhi.  (KNN Bureau)