ARMY CAPS CANTEEN PURCHASES

Cap imposed on number of subsidised items soldiers and retired personnel can buy in order to prevent pilferage of stores

NEW DELHI: From aftershave lotions to toothpastes and from watches to ovens, the Indian army has imposed a restriction on the number of subsidised items that soldiers and retired servicemen can purchase from its Canteen Stores Department (CSD) outlets to control the rising trend of such goods illegally finding their way to the open market, officials familiar with the decision said on Tuesday.

In a communication dated March 23, the army has asked all unit run canteens (URCS) to install a software that will reject bills from getting generated if the quantity of goods purchased exceeds the prescribed limit.

The letter said the software has been “formulated to prevent pilferage/misuse of stores”, adding that goods will not be issued to the URCS by the base depots from May if the mandatory software was not installed.

As per the letter, an upper limit has been fixed on the purchase of 63 regular use items such as shaving gels, fairness creams, deodorants, shampoos, chocolates, noodle packets, gas burners, geysers, and suitcases. The monthly liquor quota has not been revised.

According to the prescribed limit, soldiers can buy every month a maximum of three aftershave lotions, four deodorants, six bulbs, 20 litres of soft drinks, 30 packets of Maggi, and 6kg of health drinks like Bournvita and Horlicks, to name a few items.

Individual items costing more than ~1,250 can now be bought only a few times every year: gas burners twice, juicers six times, mattresses/suitcases/watches/ dinner sets four times, and room heaters thrice a year.

“Aspirations of various strata of beneficiaries have been taken into consideration during formulation of the limits,” reads the letter. “The laid down limits can conveniently cater for the needs of genuine beneficiaries,” it adds.

URCS have been asked to install the software by March 31.

The limit has been fixed after carrying out a detailed analysis of average consumption trends of individuals/families and a 2016 audit report on the CSD’S working, said a senior army officer familiar with the move.

The purchase limits have not been revised and beneficiaries can continue to buy goods according to their monthly and annual authorisation, he stressed.

Officers can still spend ~1.05 lakh every year on items costing more than ~1,250, compared to ~80,000 and ~60,000 for junior commissioned officers (JCOS) and other ranks (OR), respectively, he said.

For grocery stores, the monthly limit continues to be ~13,500 for officers, ~10,500 for JCOS, and ~8,000 for OR.

“I think it’s a good move as some people, including ex-servicemen, were supporting their extended families and circle of friends at times. People can’t really consume beyond a limit,” said lieutenant general (retd) BS Jaswal, a former commander.