Pages

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Govt to cut expenses by 10%

CM PROPOSES STRICT AUSTERITY MEASURES
GANGTOK, 26 June: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has proposed strict austerity measures in this year’s budget in view of the economic downturn across the globe and in the country and the impact of economic slowdown felt by all the States as well. 
At present the value of Rupee has depreciated considerably in the international market and the nation’s GDP growth for 2011-12 has slumped to 6.5% as against 8.4% of the previous year (2010-11).
The trade deficit gap is widening and Foreign Direct Investment has decreased substantially, said the CM in his budget address, adding that recently the Union Ministry of Finance has also issued certain austerity measures to reduce unproductive and wasteful Government expenditure.
“The adverse impact of economic slowdown is a global phenomenon and I propose to put in place the austerity measures to rein in unproductive Government expenditure,” he said.
He proposed a 10 percent cut in all administrative expenses which includes, travel expenses, office expenses, etc.
Sikkim, with limited employment avenues has hit the saturation point and creation of large number of white collared jobs is virtually unsustainable, he stated.
The CM announced that an Austerity Committee has been constituted and in unavoidable cases jobs are created on the recommendation of the Committee.
He also proposed that with the exception of the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, officers entitled for a Government vehicle will have one official vehicle only and directed the heads of departments responsible for strict compliance. Tours outside the State will be controlled and regulated, very strictly, he added.
The CM assured the floor of the house that the Sikkim Government (Medical Facilities) Rules will be enforced strictly to curb the heavy expenses in medical facilities to the State government employees.
In a related comment, he said that general inflation and the recent petrol price hike will put landlocked states like Sikkim in great trouble.
“In order that we provide maximum relief, we are paying our employees the highest salary in the country. We wish we could enhance wages and salaries of our employees by cent percent. There are constraints we face. However, we are trying our best. In fact, it is widely held that people entering public service should not even think about the pay. All the sacrifice and hard work would ultimately benefit the general good of the public and that itself should be greater satisfaction than any salary package,” he said.



No comments:

Post a Comment

Readers are invited to comment on, criticise, run down, even appreciate if they like something in this blog. Comments carrying abusive/ indecorous language and personal attacks, except when against the people working on this blog, will be deleted. It will be exciting for all to enjoy some earnest debates on this blog...