Catering Monopoly : More than palate could detect
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: July 24, 2012 -

The building of Manipur Bhavan at Sardar Patel Marg, New Delhi

Courting controversy is not a new thing when it comes to the functioning of the two Manipur Bhawans which are under the General Administrative Department (GAD), Government of Manipur, at Delhi.

From the composition of the staff, where 90 percent of the total staffs are non-Manipuris, to the ubiquitous absence of indigenous dishes from the menu, administration of the two Bhawans, whether it is at the old one located at 2-Sardar Patel Marg or the relatively new Manipur Tikendrajit House at Bir Tikendrajit Marg, Chanakyapuri, has always attracted severe criticism for obvious reasons.

The two Bhawans are supposed to provide not only accommodation to Manipuri people going outside the state for different purposes but also make them feel like at home during their short stay.

But there have been complaint galore over poor quality of the services being provided not just in term of fooding and lodging, but also over employment of large number of non-Manipuri staffs, who do not care two hoots about the visitors, thus taking away that feeling of a home away from home completely.

This is quite contrary to the administration in other State Bhawans where the concerned governments try their level best to make the stay of the visitors homey. So, it is not surprising for Manipuri people staying in Manipur Bhawans going to the nearby Bhawans of other states for food and snacks.

Now it has come to light that sidelining all these complaints over poor services of the present catering firm (M/s Jumsi Restaurant, Janakpuri, New Delhi) in the two Bhawans, the state government is likely to give green signal to the same firm to carry on with the catering service after expiry of the contact term on July 31.

With the catering firm submitting an application requesting extension of the contract period for another year, the Resident Commissioner, Manipur Bhawans has sent a written missive to the Commissioner (GAD) for approval of the request.

What is intriguing in the written missive is the recommendation of the Resident Commissioner who swears that 'the services of Jumsi Restaurant are by and large satisfactory and complaints received are addressed by them from time to time'.

The Resident Commissioner has also made it clear that 'both the Bhawans should be with the same caterer as it is easier to deal with one person apart from ensuring a minimum size of business for the caterer.'

Interestingly, Jumsi Restaurant is said to be in the catering service of both the Manipur Bhawans since 2008 without any interruption. This is despite the fact that the contract period is normally for one year.

Of course, there may be rules which permit extension of contract period, and we have no say over that. In fact, that is the reason why the Resident Commissioner has dispatched the written missive.

But the pertinent question is why with the same catering firm, whose services have literally left a bad taste on the palate of the visitors?

Moreover, why there has been no tender to attract new and more effective firms for better services? GAD Minister surely owes some serious explanation.