The Government on Friday came out with a slew of austerity measures to reduce spending on foreign travel by ministers and officials, meetings in five-star hotels, and purchase of new cars, in view of the tight economic situation.
Announcing the measures, Minister of State for Finance, Namo Narain Meena, said the government is committed to carrying on the process of fiscal consolidation vigorously.
In a bid to adhere to the budgetary fiscal targets, and for better expenditure management, he said, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, that the government may issue orders for strict compliance of the austerity measures effected last year.
These include enforcing a 10 per cent reduction on budgetary allocations for holding seminars, workshops and conferences, ban on holding meetings and seminars in 5-star hotels, ban on purchase of vehicles except for defence forces, paramilitary personnel and defence organisations, restrictions on foreign travel, adhering to the quarterly ceilings under foreign travel expenses, and ban on creation of plan and non-plan posts.
Follows Pranab's announcement
The minister's statement comes two days after Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had said in the Rajya Sabha that the government planned to make some unpopular austerity measures to tighten the belt.
Reduced allocations
Meanwhile, an official said, scaling down of allocations made to various schemes is also on the cards, under which spending on current outlay will be insisted on, before asking for additional money.
Keywords: UPA Government, slew of austerity measures, Minister of State for Finance, Namo Narain Meena
This is sheer window dressing and can in no way solve the fiscal crisis we are
facing today. If we are really serious on the subject let the President set an
example by cutting short her entourage on her visits to foreign countries
drastically. It was indeed shocking to learn through an RTI that an expenditure of
two-hundred and fifty crores was incurred on our President's trips abroad. .
Government accommodation if any occupied by former Ministers, MPs etc should
be got vacated forthwith. Penal rent should be collected from the day when they
cease to become eligible for Government accommodation. There should be no
laxity in the recovery of arrears on account of electricity, water consumption.
Ministry of Finance could set up a special cell charged with the task of suggesting
further measures to bring about economy in Government expendture. There are
ever so many other measures to bring about a drastic cut in Government
expenditure which should be given the highest priority.
Well this would amount to something if the government shut down Air India or sold it, got rid of MNREGS which is just helping landlords in places like Rajasthan etc get free labour and contractors shortchange beneficiaries. All Railway officers may be asked to travel by rail only and end MPLADS grant to MPs. The Government can also ensure only one car per minister and top all this by recovering the 2 crores our Lok Sabha speaker owes to all of us taxpayers.
Good decision. Though austerity usually hurts ordinary people the most the steps on the card to be taken to "tighten the belt" seem to be going in their favour. Foreign travel by ministers and other government dignitaries accounts for a considerable chunk of the budget. It was recently revealed through an RTI that President of India's foreign trip expenses went well over 200 crore, significantly higher than her predecessors'. In another incident, Minister of Civil Aviation has sent out invitations to various media outlets to join him in his tour to the United states ostensibly "to take delivery of the first of the airline's new long-range Boeing 787 jets." Such unnecessary trips drain the coffer and should to be scaled down allowing only unavoidable foreign and domestic travel for ministers and officials.
Oh! My God! As a government officer, I have seen this type of austerity
measures and I know how these are followed. Bear me! Nothing tangible will come out of this. Some worthless meetins would be cancelled to show for statistics.What the government has stipulated as tough measures, even if assumed to be followed, would amount to peanuts compared to the huge sums announced in Budget! These measures are surest way for more corruption and nepotism. Anyway that is how our governement works [if at all]!
"The Government on Friday came out with a slew of austerity measures to reduce spending on foreign travel by ministers and officials, meetings in five-star hotels, and purchase of new cars, in view of the tight economic situation. " While this is the news, the relevant question is: Does this apply to Aviation Minister?
Please Email the Editor