BRIEF HISTORY (CSD - URC RELATION)

The Canteen Stores Department (CSD) has been in the service of the Defence Services for more than six decades. The Department that made a humble beginning with four Depots and a turnover of less than Rs. 48 Lakhs has grown to be the largest retail chain network in India with a record sales of more than Rs.7,255 Crore as on 31 Mar 2009.

Canteen Stores Department (CSD) was initially set-up as a Central Government Department by nationalizing the Canteen by disbanding Contractor Syndicate on 01 Jul 1942 with the charter to provide consumer store to the Indian troops and their families. On 01 Apr 1977, CSD was redesigned as a regular Government Department under the Ministry of Defence. CSD is a major welfare organization working for the personnel of the Armed Forces, Ex-servicemen and their families. With the passage of time, the other categories like serving Defence Civilians, CSD employees, General Reserve Engineers Force (GREF), Personnel of Coast Guard, Army Postal Services, Territorial Army, Defence Security Corps and Para Military Forces (while under the operational and administrative control of Army) have also been entitled for the canteen facilities.

CSD provides its consumers, all over the country, quality products of daily use at rats less than those prevailing in the market. These items are meant for sale to troops, ex-servicemen and their families.

CSD functions under the Ministry of Defence. It employs a few serving officers on deputation from the Armed Forces. However, the remaining workforce comprises civilian Central Government employees covered under CCS Rules.

CSD Head Office is located at Mumbai. The Department controls and manages its field operations through a network of 35 Area Depots located across the length and breadth of the country. These Depots have been grouped into five regions based on the Indian States and their contiguity. Accordingly, the Northern Region with its office at BD Bari (Jammu) covers the states of J&K and Punjab. The Western Region with its office at Delhi controls the Area Depots located in the state of Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, UT of Chandigarh, Rajasthan and Gujarat. The Central Region has its office at Lucknow and it takes care of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttaranchal. The Eastern Region with its office at Narangi (Guwahati) controls the Area Depots located in the states of West Bengal, Jharkhand and the seven states in North-Eastern India. The Southern Region has its head office at Khadki and it controls the field operations in the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, Orissa and UT of A&N Islands.

Each region is commanded by a Regional Manager (RM). Each of the said regions has six to eight Area Depots under its control. The Area Depots are categorized as small, medium, large and extra large Depots depending upon their annual turnover and dependency. On an average, each Area Depot caters to about 100 URCs.

The Unit Run Canteens (URCs) serve as a vital link between the CSD and ultimate customers. The main role of URCs is to provide the day-to-day requirements of consumer goods and durables to the serving as well as retired defence personnel and their families at a price cheaper than the market. There are a total 3600 URCs functioning in India and are catering to the requirements of about 1.6 Crore entitled personnel. Almost 7000 civilian employees are working in URCs.

1 comment:

  1. Sukhi roti dal chawal khau
    Khoon pasina bahau
    Hamara Bharat mahan ka nara lagau..

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