divisions. They are responsible for coordination of scrap arising out of division in close association with the Engineering Department. Sr. DMMs also do uniform management for various grades of running staff such as guards, TTE, station masters. Objectives of the department for the coming years Recent policy decisions have been made by the Ministry of Railways for expanding and improving the conditions of railway infrastructure, amenities on trains, railway stations, and other railway premises for passengers and other railway users. As a result, phenomenal growth has taken place in all the activities including those of the Stores department. Since economic liberalization started in early 1990s, the pace of growth has increased substantially and Indian Railways has set ambitious targets for the Eleventh Five-Year Plan. Scientific materials and supply chain management have emerged in recent years as important managerial functions. A systematic application of the tools and techniques of materials management can achieve considerable saving in costs and increase in productivity. No management can afford to ignore these concepts and techniques in an environment marked by liberalization, globalization, enhanced competition, and rapid progress in technology, particularly in the areas of automation and computerization. The objective is to increasingly apply the modern concepts related to integrated materials management, strategic and operational aspects of outsourcing and procurement, the interface of materials management and supply chain management. The objective is also to adopt the latest techniques of cost control and optimization by leveraging information technology tools for development and implementation of an efficient materials management system in the organization. It is needless to say that all is to be done in public procurement platforms in most economic manner. The technical, industrial and commercial scenario of the country has also changed significantly. There are now more number of standards, specifications, accrediting bodies and also more central, state and local laws. Even organizations much smaller in size and scope than Railways appoint persons expert in techno-commercial areas like taxation, port clearance, law and accountancy. The officers manning the cadre will be encouraged to take special interest and become specialist in one of the areas of scientific materials management, some of which are given below- Strategic procurement management International purchasing Inventory management – designing and implementing inventory systems Logistics management Management information system Financial aspects of materials management Sales and Auction management Value engineering The market in India has also undergone tremendous change ever since the liberalization