Govt needs to focus on trimming extravagant costs
Every time a new party comes into power, one of the most predictable things that gets spoken about is that of trimming costs, especially what would be considered as ‘extravagant’ in normal parlance. But all these talks bit dust few months later, is the bitter truth. CM Kumaraswamy has instructed chief secretary to ensure extravagance in terms of money should be brought down. This is the most welcome move. His commitment is indeed honorable.
New ministers splurging on renovation, new car, television, household goods, furniture and remodeling of even official residence is ugly but a normal practice by now. People do not hesitate to even spend crores of rupees to make their govt residences vastu complainant. This is sure to damage CM’s commitment to bring down exorbitant spending.
After the coalition government came into power, ministers have started conducting pooja, homa and havanas in their offices and have been renovating their places of residence. This work alone has cost Rs 20 crore by now. Though some ministers were part of the previous government as well, even they utilized money to carry out works at their house as per vastu or any other aspect they place their trust in. When BJP’s Jagadish Shettar was the CM, the chief whip of that party had demolished a wall in their office at Vidhana Soudha, and then built it again as per the vastu advice. Carrying out homa, Havana and other rituals in Vidhana Soudha is the ultimate insult we cause to the democracy. One may have them at their personal residences which is a closed space. Not only ministers, even officers renovate offices when they assume new posts, to give a modern touch to their workplace. New lamps, toilets and upholstery cost quite a bit of funds from the govt exchequer.
CM Kumaraswamy was chosen by people for his promise to waive off loans of the farmers. His govt has to collate resources to be able to execute this promise which would cost close to Rs 53,000 cr to the state exchequer. Just telling his ministers and officers to cut down on exorbitant costs would not do any good unless the CM instructs them in unambiguous terms as to what is allowed and what isn’t. CM has not occupied his official bunglow, and continues to live in his private residence in JP Nagar. He is travelling by Air India whenever the need for travel arises. The rest of the ministers too need to focus on staying simple on many fronts.
The tax money that gets spent on unnecessary costs and expenses does not send the right message about the new government to the people of the state. CM and his ministers are just caretakers of the whole state. They need to be transparent in all aspects of their tenure in the government. The lakhs and crores they spend on office renovation, should actually be reserved for welfare programmes of people.
The new government should not only focus on bringing down exorbitant costs but also ensure the number of Boards and Federations are also trimmed as per the need, since they are often seen as rehabilitation centres for those who want to use official power and resources without contributing much. There are nearly 90 Boards in the state, and about 75% of them are bleeding bad. They seem like white elephants that need a lot of money to maintain with no exact outcome or contribution to the state. The government needs to take a bold step to shut them down. The Academies and Authorities that do not contribute to any growth of the state whether in terms or identity, heritage or any other tangible aspect, also need to be dealt with iron hand. There is a lot of duplication in these small units that carry out similar work. Hundreds earn salaries through these bodies that serve no tangible purpose.
A strong decision regarding cutting down on expenses was taken when UPA government was in power. NDA government continued this practice as well. Officers were instructed not to travel by first class, and more such extravagant expenses were brought down.
If CM Kumaraswamy needs to waive off the farmers loans, he needs Rs 53,000 cr for the purpose and half of this needs to come from the central government. Whether central government contributes for this purpose or not, the state will have to carry out its commitment without fail. Hence all the unnecessary administration costs need to be brought under strict monitoring and the financial resource will have to be put together to provide relief to the farmers. A strong political will is needed to carry out this assurance the CM had given to his people. They need to shun extravagance and lead a simple life for the larger good, and to be appreciated by people of the state.
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Delhi Police arrests sharpshooter, arms supplier linked to Kapil Sangwan gang
New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Police has arrested a sharpshooter and an arms supplier linked to the Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu gang, and seized two country-made pistols and five live cartridges from their possession, officials said on Saturday.
The main accused, Sumit Punia (25), a resident of Mahendergarh in Haryana, was arrested in Dwarka with a country-made semi-automatic pistol and five live rounds, a senior police officer said.
During interrogation, police found that Sumit was absconding in a 2021 encounter case registered by the Special Cell, and had links with the Nandu gang, where he allegedly worked as a sharpshooter.
At his instance, police arrested the gang's alleged weapons supplier, Badar Islam (32), from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh and recovered a country-made pistol from his possession, the officer said.
Police said the accused were part of a network supplying illegal firearms to members of the gang, which were used to threaten victims who resisted extortion.
According to investigators, Sumit, who joined the gang around 2020-21, was known to gangster Kapil Sangwan since childhood, as they belonged to neighbouring villages.
Earlier arrested in an arms case in Haryana, Sumit was involved in multiple criminal cases lodged in Delhi and Haryana.
Badar, who allegedly supplied weapons for quick money, has also been named in several criminal cases registered in Uttar Pradesh, police said.
The duo has been booked under the relevant sections of law, including the Arms Act, at the Crime Branch police station, the officer said.
