Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday announced austerity measures to promote fiscal discipline and curb expenditure.
As per the order issued by Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Finance Department, in order to promote fiscal discipline, without restricting the operational efficiency of the government and to ensure balanced pace of expenditure, all the Government Departments and Autonomous Bodies funded by the Government are ordered to adhere to economy and austerity measures.
It directed 10 per cent cut on office expenses (OE), leave travel concession (LTC), telephone, petrol (PoL), research and survey, hospitality and sumptuary out of budget estimates of the ongoing financial year.
The Financial Commissioner further ordered a 10 per cent economic cut on camps and seminars out of the budget estimates 2021-22.
The department also imposed a 10 per cent economy cut on travel expenses out of the budget estimates of 2021-22.
The government ordered Balanced Pace of Expenditure, stating that during the last quarter of the current financial year, the expenditure should be limited to 30 per cent of budget allocation and in the month of March, the expenditure should be limited to 15 per cent of Budget Estimates.
It directed for advance payment to contractors under terms of duly executed contracts, so that the government would not renege on its legal or contractual obligations and any loans or advances to government servants or private individuals as a measure of relief and rehabilitation as per service conditions or on compassionate grounds.
Utmost economy shall be observed in organising conferences/seminars/ workshops and only such conferences, workshops or seminars, which are absolutely necessary, should be held, read the order.
It further directed that holding of exhibitions/fairs/ seminars/ conferences outside J&K is strongly discouraged except in the case of craft/investment promotion of exhibition for tourism/art and there shall be complete ban on holding of meetings and conferences at private hotels. Government buildings/ premises should be utilised for holding meetings and conferences instead, added the Financial Commissioner.
He said a 10 per cent economy cut is imposed on conduct of camps and seminars out of the Budget Estimates 2021-22.
Purchase of new vehicles to meet the operational requirement is permitted, but only against condemnation as a replacement measure, added Dulloo.
He said the travel expenditure should be regulated, so as to ensure that each Department remains within the allocated budget.
The facility of Video Conferencing may be used effectively and travel for the purpose of attending meetings should be avoided to the extent possible, he added.
According to the order, no furniture shall be procured out of the available funds, except in case of newly established offices with the concurrence of the Finance Department.
There shall be a complete ban on holding of official dinners and lunches, except those hosted by the Chief Secretary and the Lieutenant Governor or with specific approval of the the Lieutenant Governor, it added. (UNI)
