Close on the heels of finance minister Pranab Mukherjee announcing a slew of austerity measures for the government, the department of personnel and training (DoPT) is now taking that initiative forward in a bid to cut cost on sarkari babus.
Highly placed government sources said the DoPT will soon be writing to all departments and ministries directing them to do a detailed review as to how they can cut down on wasteful expenditure. The departments and ministries will have to submit a regular status report with the DoPT on initiatives taken in cost-cutting.
“At a time when the world economy is going through a major crisis and costs are being cut at every level, it is very important that the government too starts looking inwards and cuts down on expenses,” a top government functionary said.
As part of its cost-cutting drive, the government has already decided to restrict foreign trips of ministers and top bureaucrats. Meetings and seminars in five-star hotels have also been limited. Sources said even air travel of senior bureaucrats within the country will be restricted to a very large extent and if required, the officials will have to travel by economy class.
There is, DoPT sources said, a strong possibility that all foreign seminars and study tours that are organised for government officials may be completely banned.
“If the seminar or study tours are in absolute national interest or the concerned officials get sponsored by a particular university or outfit with no cost to the government, only then will the permission be granted,” a senior official added.
The DoPT is the nodal agency that grants permission to government officials for such study tours.
While travelling within the country, even senior officials have been asked to use government guesthouses or those of public sector undertakings. Where neither is available, preference should be given to budget hotels.
Importantly, the cost-cutting drive will not just be limited to the government department and ministries, but will extend to top public sector companies as well.
Sources said two areas in which heavy expenditure is incurred within the government and which are already under the scanner are transportation and stationery.