To solve the problem of financial crunch in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, the Government in the Finance Department recently issued a circular to the state functionaries for taking “austerity measure in the Government for the year 2009 – 10 and beyond”. It, among other directions, restricted the Government departments for making unnecessary expenditures like purchase of new vehicles, new furniture etc. It also directed the Government departments to stop making cadre promotions, abolition of posts which are not manned etc.
If the Government is sincere enough in its implementation, then it should be welcomed by all. But we all know it always turns to be a farce. Ministers themselves go against their own directions. How can we expect the State of Jammu and Kashmir to come out of the financial crunch, when huge expenditures are being incurred by the sitting ministers and MLAs. We all are aware, the then Chief Minister of the State, Mufti Muhammad Sayed spent a huge amount of about Rs.2.00 Crores on the renovation and repairs of his residence at M.A. Road and when his tenure as CM expired, the then Deputy Chief Minister got it renovated again according to his choice and spent equal amount on its renovation, furnishings and fittings etc and during the present regime, the same building has been allotted to the present Deputy Chief Minister and he has again renovated it according to his choice and spent a huge amount on its renovation which means the building was renovated three times in less than six years resulting in loss of the state exchequer.
The Government spends huge amount worth crores of rupees during the annual darbars at Jammu and Srinagar. Carrying of records of Civil Secretariat from Srinagar to Jammu and Jammu to Srinagar during darbar move also costs much to the Government. It renovates and repairs the Civil Secretariats in Srinagar and Jammu after every six months and thus a huge burden on state exchequer. We also observe that the meetings are being held at Jammu during winters and the Kashmir bound officers have to spend most of the winter season in Jammu and during the period they get the travelling expanses from the State, which is again a burden to the State exchequer.
A fleet of vehicles ply with the ministers including the Finance Minister. They, in addition to their already allotted vehicles, attach four to five vehicles from their subordinate offices. These vehicles are being used by their Private Secretaries, Special Assistants, servants, cooks, family members etc. On these vehicles a good expenditure is being made on lubricants, petrol, diesel and other maintenances. In addition, almost all the Heads of the Departments keep more than a vehicle at their disposal, one for the official purposes and the other for their family’s convenience. Who pays to these vehicles………...it is the State.
Weren’t these things in the mind of Finance Minister when he issued the orders of austerity measures? Sir ji, Charity begins at home, please remember it and if the government is really sincere to take out the J&K State out of the financial crunch, the orders of austerity measures should be implemented at the top level in the government.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 IST