The fund-starved Punjab Government has asked its Ministers and employees to strike a balance between limited income resources and expenditure.
The Government on Sunday issued strict instructions to its all department heads, semi-government departments, ministers and senior officers of all departments to ensure austerity in public expenditures for 2014-15.In a communique to all Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, District and Session Judges, Registrar Punjab and Haryana High Court and heads of departments, it has been conveyed to follow instruction regarding austerity measure in true spirit maintaining balance between limited income resources and expenditure.
It was also conveyed that none of the department could exceed the budget limit in their departmental expenditures.“No department would host lunch or dinner from the State exchequer without getting prior approval from the chief secretary,” said an official spokesperson.He said that at the time of Ministers’ visit to any district, head of concerned departments would only accompany the Minister. “During the current financial year, the State has put complete embargo on lTC besides prohibiting meeting and conferences in five stars and above standard hotels,” he added.
The spokesperson also said that ministers and officers, who have charge of more than one office, they could only use vehicles of one department.As per instructions, rest of the vehicles should not be used and no department would demand budget for these vehicles. “It is also conveyed to all departments to ensure austerity in electricity and telephone expenditures,” he said.
It has also made mandatory to take prior approval from the Chief Minister before making foreign tours and such visits should only be made in unavoidable circumstances.“It is also conveyed in the instructions that except the Chief Secretary, other officers would not be paid for telephone, electricity, furniture and other expenditures from state exchequer for camp offices,” he added.