The dispute about controlling power raging on between TRIFED Chairman Ramsinh Rathwa and Managing Director Ms. Geetanjali Gupta (IAS) has raised eyebrows in the cooperative circles. Even, Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has weighed in but to no avail.
Trifed Chairman Rathwa who is a five-time MP from Gujarat also met Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, Union Cooperation Secretary Gyanesh Kumar, NCUI President Dileep Sanghani in this regard and apprised them of the conflict and sought their intervention in the matter.
In his letter, Rathwa raised many issues before the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs against the MD, to which the ministry replied point by point.
Rathwa wondered why the GOI nominated Ms. Geetanjali Gupta as MD of Trifed when as per the bye-laws of Trifed, MD should be appointed by the board of Trifed.
Commenting on this issue, the Ministry said that the present MD of Trifed is an officer of the rank of Additional Secretary in GOI and all appointments of such high positions are being decided by the Appointment Committee of Cabinet.
“As the equity share capital contribution of GOI in TRIFED is more than 99% and it is largely dependent on grant-in-aid provided by the Ministry, the appointment of CE i.e. MD of Trifed is being done by the ACC which is the apex appointment body in the government”, the Ministry reply reads.
Another issue Rathwa raised was that as per annual plan expenses, the budget is required to be approved by the Board of Trifed, but I have not seen any resolution like that for taking approval of the board for the expenses of Trifed, he added.
The Ministry said, “As per the information received from Trifed, the Annual Act Plan for 2022-23 was included in the agenda for the 144th board meeting held on 23.05.2022 under your chairmanship. The agenda item is said to have been deferred in the 144th meeting. The Annual Action plan for 2022-23 was again reportedly put up in March, 2023 for approval of the board by convening the board meeting”.
“It appears that you gave the time for the meeting to be held on 06.04.2023. It has been informed by MD, trifed that the Annual Action Plan was recommended by Executive Committee as well as the board and the General body accorded ex-post facto approval in the meeting held on 06.04.2023”, the reply further reads.
Rathwa further raised the issue about the fresh appointments being made without taking any approval from the board of Trifed like Consultants, project management unit etc for which expenses are being made unauthorized.
In his reply the Ministry said, “Clause 24.5 of Trifed bye-laws gives the power to the board for making provisions for regulating the appointment of employees of the Trifed and other service conditions such as scale of pay, allowances etc. However, the power of making appointments to the posts in Trifed lies with the MD as per clause 28.4.6. of Trifed Bye-laws.
Another issue raised by Rathwa included, “Refund of unutilised grant by Trifed without board’s approval which may lead to shortage/non-issuance of grant by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in forthcoming financial years (Ref Bye-laws clause No. 28.4)”.
Replying to the issue, the Ministry said, “TRIFED is the central implementing agency for the Central Sector Schemes of the Ministry namely PMJVM and PTP-NER. Both the schemes are being implemented as per the extant scheme guidelines and the General Financial Rules notified by the Ministry of Finance”.
“The refund of unutilized grant by TRIFED is being done as per the laid down financial rules of the Government which do not require prior approval of the Board. However, if there is any specific point of financial or accounting matter, the same may be discussed in the Finance Committee of the Board”, the Ministry reply added.
Rathwa raised many other issues, on which, he claims, he is yet to get replies.