Assam Government Implements Austerity Measures Following PM Modi's Call
Assam's New Austerity Measures Announced
Sarma briefs the press after the first cabinet meeting of his new government, on Wednesday. (Photo:PTI)
Guwahati, May 13: In a significant move towards economic prudence, the Assam government unveiled a comprehensive set of austerity measures on Wednesday, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent appeal for fiscal responsibility and mindful fuel usage.
During a press briefing following the inaugural Cabinet meeting of the newly elected government, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that no new vehicles would be acquired for the next six months, including for the newly appointed ministers, who are instructed to utilize their current vehicles.
“New vehicles will not be provided to ministers for the next six months. They will continue using existing ones,” Sarma stated.
Additionally, a temporary prohibition on all official and personal international travel for ministers, officials, and government employees has been instituted for the same duration.
“Starting tomorrow, no government minister, employee, or officer will be permitted to travel abroad, even at their own expense, except in medical emergencies,” Sarma declared.
He also mentioned that any official foreign trips would now necessitate prior approval from the Chief Minister’s Office, while officials are encouraged to attend international conferences and seminars virtually from Guwahati.
In another notable decision, the Assam government has opted to reduce the size of convoys for ministers and senior officials, including those linked to the Raj Bhavan.
“Convoys for ministers and government officials, including that of the Governor, will be minimized for at least the next six months,” Sarma added.
The state has also set a goal to decrease fuel expenses by 20% compared to the previous fiscal year and to refrain from purchasing foreign-made products during this austerity phase.
“For the next six months, the Assam government will not acquire international or foreign products, whether mobile phones or other items,” he emphasized.
Moreover, physical seminars and workshops organized by government departments will be suspended for the next six months, shifting to virtual formats to reduce costs.
Simultaneously, the government plans to hire electric vehicles and gradually retire those older than 15 to 20 years as part of an energy conservation initiative.
These austerity measures in Assam follow similar actions taken by the Prime Minister. Official sources in New Delhi indicated that Modi had notably reduced the size of his convoy during recent domestic trips to Gujarat and Assam while adhering to mandatory SPG security protocols.
Sources also revealed that the Prime Minister had directed officials to incorporate electric vehicles into his convoy wherever feasible without incurring new expenses.
These initiatives come in response to Modi’s comments at a BJP rally in Hyderabad on Sunday, where he urged for decreased reliance on petrol and diesel and encouraged citizens to adopt austerity measures to safeguard foreign exchange reserves amid the West Asia crisis.
With inputs from agencies