SECL CVO Himanshu Jain Addresses Interactive Session on Public Procurement and Vigilance at DFCCIL, Kolkata
Session facilitates exchange of best practices and mutual learning between SECL and DFCCIL
Himanshu Jain, Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO), SECL, addressed a training-cum-interactive session on “Public Procurement” and “Vigilance in the Current Context” organised by Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL), Kolkata, as part of the Three-Month Campaign on Preventive Vigilance.
The session focused on strengthening understanding of public procurement processes, identifying vigilance-related risks at different stages, and sharing organisational experiences and best practices. It also provided an opportunity for officers of SECL and DFCCIL to learn from each other’s experiences and approaches in procurement and preventive vigilance.
During the session, Jain discussed the importance of transparency, fairness, accountability and probity in public procurement. Drawing upon practical examples and case studies, he highlighted how vigilance principles can be integrated into procurement processes to facilitate informed and objective decision-making.
The discussion covered key stages of the procurement cycle, including need assessment, preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), tendering, bid evaluation, award of contracts, execution and payment. Potential risks at different stages and measures for their mitigation were also discussed.
Emphasising the role of preventive vigilance, Jain observed that its purpose extends beyond identifying or preventing irregularities. A well-designed preventive vigilance framework can help organisations improve processes, reduce risks and support better governance and decision-making.
A key feature of the programme was the interactive exchange between participants from DFCCIL and SECL. Officers discussed practical issues encountered in procurement, approaches adopted by their respective organisations and relevant best practices. The interaction enabled both organisations to benefit from each other’s experience and explore ways to further strengthen procurement systems.
Officials and employees of DFCCIL participated in the programme, while officers from various tender-related departments of SECL, including young executives from SECL Headquarters and MDI, Bilaspur, joined through video conferencing.
The programme formed part of the ongoing efforts towards capacity building and preventive vigilance, with particular emphasis on sharing best practices, strengthening procurement processes and promoting transparency and accountability across organisations.
