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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'Engineered narratives': West Bengal guv on alleged molestation charges against him
Kolkata, May 2: West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Thursday said he will not be cowed down by “engineered narratives” and the "truth shall triumph” after TMC leaders claimed that a woman working at Raj Bhavan levelled allegations of molestation against him.
In a statement, the Governor said, “Truth shall triumph. I refuse to be cowed down by engineered narratives. If anybody wants some election benefits by maligning me, God bless them. But they cannot stop my fight against corruption and violence in Bengal,”
To the Raj Bhavan staff "who expressed solidarity with him following some derogatory narratives that were circulated by two disgruntled employees as agents of political parties," a communication by Raj Bhawan said.
The Governor’s statement came after senior TMC leaders claimed this evening in a series of social media posts that the woman, who had levelled the allegations, has been taken to a police station to complain against Bose.
Though police sources said they received a verbal complaint, there was no official word on whether a formal complaint had been registered.
“BIG. Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose was accused of molesting a woman. How utterly appalling and Horrifying. Ahead of @narendramodi visit to Kolkata who is supposed to stay overnight at Raj Bhavan, a woman has alleged that she was molested while she went to meet the Governor at Raj Bhavan today. The complainant has been taken to the Hare Street police station for filing a complaint. The woman has accused the Governor of molesting her. Shocking and disgraceful,” TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose said in a post on X.
Fellow TMC MP Saket Gokhale also posted on his X account regarding the issue.
West Bengal Women and Child Development Minister Shashi Panja said it is “shameful” that the Governor has maligned his post and has used it to “torture a woman”.
“It is appalling and shocking to see such an incident. This is the same Governor who had reached out to Sandeshkhali to talk about women’s rights and Nari Shakti. This is shameful that the Governor sought undue advantages in the pretext of giving her a permanent job. We want Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will be addressing rallies in Bengal tomorrow to react on this issue,” she said.
According to sources in the Governor's House, the "woman employee with the help of her alleged boyfriend who is also an employee of the Raj Bhavan was blocking complaints (from people) being sent to the Election Commission of India.
"When she was reprimanded for that, she went outside and alleged molestation. She is in the habit of throwing tantrums against her colleagues because of some disease," a Raj Bhavan official said.
The West Bengal Governor and the TMC government have shared an acrimonious relationship since he assumed office in November 2022 and had several run-ins on various issues.
The BJP said it has to be seen whether this a “conspiracy by the TMC” or has an “iota of truth in it”.
“We all know that the TMC is politically cornered on the issue of SSC scam and is looking for a breathing space. So this needs to be seen whether this is a conspiracy by the TMC or it has any iota of truth in it,” BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said.
BIG. Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose accused of molesting a woman. How utterly APPALLING and HORRIFYING. Ahead of @narendramodi visit to Kolkata who is supposed to stay overnight at Raj Bhavan, a woman has alleged that she was molested while she went to meet the Governor at Raj…
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) May 2, 2024
Shameful that a constitutional office holder should try to prejudice an impartial investigation by attacking the motive of the complainant. We have seen this happen in that infamous Saturday Hearing of the Supreme Court. Respect women! https://t.co/E6eJLQvFXO
— sanjoy ghose (@advsanjoy) May 2, 2024
