PM's letter raps ministers, asks them to curb expenses

R Prema in New Delhi

Unhappy over his colleagues' fiscal profligacy, Prime Minister A B Vajpayee has written a firm letter to them reminding them of the need for tightening their belts. What has irked the prime minister, and what he has brought forth in the letter, is the federal ministers' proclivity to circumvent limits on expenditure by exploiting the hospitality of various public sector undertakings.

According to a report received by the Prime Minister's Office, 18 Union ministers have spent more than Rs 2.5 million on interior decoration in their bungalows -- the payment in each case having been made by various PSUs.

On February 28, the prime minister had appealed to his colleagues to set an example in implementing austerity measures.

However, since the appeal seems to have been ignored by and large, he has mentioned in detail examples of non-official expenditure in his latest communication sent out on September 24.

Furnishing of office and official residence beyond the limits prescribed for such work, exceeding limits on fuel consumption of official vehicles, excessive expenditure on official telephones, overspending on official hospitality and exceeding entitlement of personal staff, are some of the instances of such expenditure that the prime minister has pointed out.

The prime minister has also told his colleagues that the finance ministry will soon be informing them of the areas where they should cut governmental spending.

Money

Business News

Tell us what you think of this report