The Finance department wants government departments and institutions drawing government support to urgently cut down unnecessary expenses and put in place belt-tightening measures.
It has directed the departments/institutions to stop using pricey star hotels and similar expensive facilities for organising seminars, workshops and training programmes. For holding such events, they should instead make maximum use of their own facilities, the Finance department said.
This measure aimed at expenditure control would come into immediate effect given the current financial situation of the State government, the department said in an August 19 order.
“Government departments/grant-in-aid institutions/local self government institutions and other institutions that receive aid from the government should, as far as possible, make use of their own facilities for organising seminars, workshops and training programmes,” the order said. If their own facilities prove inadequate, they should opt for those owned by other government departments and institutions, it said.
In absolutely unavoidable circumstances, the department secretary concerned can give exemptions, according to the Finance Department.
Further, the department also warned that government officials concerned would be held accountable for any violations of the directive.
Faced with mounting expenses, especially during the Onam month, the Finance department had launched a slew of measures to tone down spending. Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal had pegged the Onam month expenses at approximately ₹19,000 crore. On Saturday, treasury regulations were further tightened by placing restrictions on clearing bills over ₹5 lakh. The limit was from the ₹10 lakh limit set earlier this year.
