Skill, Speed, Scale key to StartUp capacity building: Dr Jitendra

New Delhi, Sep 22: The three ‘Ss’ – Skill, Speed and Scale – are the key to capacity building for StartUps as also for those engaged in any other vocation, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said on Friday.
Inaugurating the training program conducted by IIM Raipur faculty for the Kendriya Bhandar (KB) staff, the Minister said, “Quality with Cost-Effectiveness of the end-product is what determines the sustainability amid competition.”
Kendriya Bhandar is the first organization in India to seek institutionalised training for its employees. The training and constant upgrading of skills are the two main aspects constantly reiterated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said.
Dr Jitendra Singh said success stories like Chandrayaan-3 and G20 have established PM Modi as the world’s tallest leader. He said these successes have been possible because ever since PM Modi took over in May 2014, he has heralded a new work culture, where excellence is pursued and promoted.
“KB Society was performing dismally after the withdrawal of Stationery OM in March 2015, and the sales turnover started falling down by 100 to 150 crores annually and the profit also declined sharply till March 2018, thus the society was almost on the verge of losses,” he said.
The minister said it was the cost-cutting measures and the efforts of the Managing Director Mukesh Kumar and the Board of Directors and all employees of the Kendriya Bhandar for ushering in a lot of reforms, especially in the wake of the Covid pandemic, and thus making a turnaround. As a result, profits soared over 30 percent, he said.
In his address, the Managing Director of Kendriya Bhandar, Dr Mukesh Kumar said, the Society has taken a lot of measures to heighten the morale and confidence of the employees by granting them fair wages which are comparable to the industry, while a record number of promotions at a faster pace to the performing employees was granted. “Apart from these, measures like re-designation of posts guaranteeing respect, improving the quality of life at workplace and periodical training through cooperative institutes, FSSAI and other activities for personality development of the employees,” he said.
Kendriya Bhandar created an all-time record by achieving a five-fold growth of Rs 4,043 crores in 2021-22 from Rs 750 crores in 2017-18, which is unprecedented in any public or private sector.
It is also worth mentioning here that the society had accumulated fixed deposits of Rs 98.59 crores in 55 years since its coming into existence and Rs 41.28 crores (29.51% of the total Rs.139.87 crores) have been added in the last five years.
The Society serves the common man by providing essential commodities at the lowest rates in the country. In recent times, the Society sold Onions @ Rs.15/- per kg against the market price of Rs.70/- per kg; Bharat Atta @ Rs.27.50 per kg against the market price of Rs.40/- to Rs.45/- per kg in February-March 2023; Sold Tomatoes @ Rs.70/- per kg against the market price of Rs.200/- per kg in the month of August 2023; Selling Bharat Dal (Chana Dal) @ Rs.58/- per kg against market price of Rs.110/- per kg. Further, the role of Kendriya Bhandar during the Coronavirus/crisis has been commendable as it provided the fastest services and quality items at the lowest rate in the country.
Kendriya Bhandar was set up in 1963 as a Welfare Project. It is the Society with a shareholding of the government and the government. employees. It has been registered as a Multi-State Co-operative Society under the MSCS Act 2002. It has over 93,000 members out of which more than 10,000 members are still serving in Govt. The Society is managed by a Board of Directors (14 Directors). The Board has 09 elected Directors, 03 Nominated, 01 MD and 01 Co-opted Director. The Society has 149 shops and establishments/offices, besides 05 Chemist Shops/Jan Aushadhi outlets all over the country.