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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Raj Nath Singh on Thursday ordered certain curbs on the otherwise growing extravagance of ministers.
Making this announcement after a cabinet meeting , Singh said, "The cabinet unanimously decided to cut down the expenditure by ministers."
A cabinet sub-committee under the chairmanship of parliamentary affairs minister Hukum Singh was formed. It is to submit its recommendations within a week.
"The ministers have authorised me to take a final decision on this issue after the submission of the sub-committee's report," the chief minister said.
The 90-member jumbo cabinet headed by Singh has withdrawn an astounding Rs 150 million as 'out of pocket expense' from the state exchequer over the past three years beating all previous records.
According to an official report, the ministers spent as much as Rs 45 million between April 2000 and December 2000 alone. The rest of the Rs 110 million was spent between 1998-99 and 1999-2000.
Only a handful of ministers had drawn lesser pocket expenses than their official salary. Most pocketed at least 10 to 15 times their salaries.
At least one of the ministers, R A Paswan, has crossed the Rs 10 million mark while A M Tripathi was trying to catch up with a bill of over Rs seven million.
Paswan looks after the Minor Irrigation portfolio and Tripathi is the Minister of State for Institutional Finance and Trade Tax.
The cabinet has also resolved to cut down the uncontrolled deployment of security personnel for ministers, MPs, MLAs and other politicians.
"Henceforth, no own will be entitled to more than one shadow or gunner. Each of the 48 special security personnel, wielding AK-47 assault rifles are to be withdrawn forthwith", Singh said.
While MPs and legislators have been allowed to retain one security personnel, they would be entitled to an additional guard payment of a nominal sum ranging between 10 to 25% of the policeman's monthly salary.
City mayors and non-official heads of public undertakings and local bodies as well as former MPs and legislators too would have to shell out a part of the expenditure incurred on their security.
Another significant decision was on the use of red-beacon lights by politicians and bureaucrats alike. "None other than those authorised to use red-beacon lights under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act would be allowed to do so with effect from May 1," the chief minister informed, adding, "I will personally see to it that the Act is strictly adhered to."
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