In a move aimed at furthering the cause of girl education, the Gujarat government has launched an e-portal for the online auction of gifts received by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. This initiative is rooted in the tradition of using the proceeds from such gifts for noble causes, particularly girl education. The online auction platform, dubbed ‘CM Mementos,’ is a direct response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to accelerate the Digital India campaign.
Previously, these gifts were sold through public auctions at state-level gatherings and by District Collectors through public auctions within their districts. Now, the Gujarat government has taken the initiative to centralize this process through an online portal, ensuring transparency and efficiency in the collection of contributions for the Girl Child Education Fund. This digital platform allows buyers from across the country to participate in the e-auction, bidding on a diverse range of items from the Toshakhana.
The practice of donating the proceeds from gift sales to girl education was established by PM Modi during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat. This tradition is now being continued by Chief Minister Patel, who views himself as a trustee of these gifts rather than their owner. To facilitate this e-auction process, the company NCode GNFC has developed the e-auction portal, categorizing items with photographs provided by NIFT and detailed descriptions in both English and Gujarati.
To participate in the auction, buyers must register on the e-auction portal and submit their bids. The highest bidder will then make a digital payment to the Girl Child Education Fund, after which the purchased item will be delivered by post.
The launch of the CM Mementos portal was attended by several key officials, including Chief Secretary Rajkumar, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Pankaj Joshi, M K Das; Principal Secretary of Finance Department Natarajan, Aarti Kanwar; Secretary to Chief Minister Avantika Singh, and other senior officers. This online initiative exemplifies the Gujarat government’s commitment to promoting transparency, digitalization, and social welfare, particularly focusing on empowering girl children through education.
