Maharashtra Raj Bhavan tightens belt to save for Covid-19 relief

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari launched several austerity measures to reduce the expenses of Raj Bhavan to make available more resources for Covid-19 relief, an official said here on Thursday.

These measures are expected to save around 10-15 per cent of the Raj Bhavan budget for the current fiscal.

Among the measures are no fresh capital works, whether new constructions or repair works, would be undertaken, barring ongoing works till they are completed.

For this year, the upcoming Independence Day Reception, a red-letter day in the Raj Bhavan calendar of events, will be cancelled in Pune.

The Governor has also barred all new regular recruitments and has deferred the proposal of purchase for a new car for the Raj Bhavan.

Visiting dignitaries will be greeted warmly but without a bouquet as is the normal practice, which is being stopped, while the guest rooms in the palatial Arabian Sea-facing Raj Bhavan will not be decorated with flower vases/pots.

Similarly, the VVIPs will not be presented with gifts or mementos as is customary, till further orders.

Governor Koshyari will hold meetings and interactions with Vice-Chancellors of universities and other officials through video-conferencing to avoid travel expenses.

The Governor has already given his one month salary and further pledged 30 per cent of his salary for one year to the PM CARES Fund.

“The Governor estimates that these austerity measures would be a small but significant contribution to save resources that can be used to reduce the peoples’ sufferings in the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic,” said an official.

Maharashtra is the worst-hit by the pandemic recording 1,897 fatalities and 56,998 cases till date.-IANS News

The Governor today gave instructions to Raj Bhavan to undertake the following measures in the current financial year to reduce its expenses:

1.      No new capital works to be undertaken. There will not be any new major construction / repairing works in Raj Bhavan. Only ongoing works in progress will be continued and completed.

2.      The Independence Day Reception to be held on 15th August 2020 at Raj Bhavan, Pune will be cancelled.

3.      There will be no new regular recruitment in Raj Bhavan until further orders.

4.      The proposal for the purchase of new car for Raj Bhavan be deferred.

5.      The practice of offering gifts/mementos to VVIPS will be discontinued until further order.

6.      The practice of welcoming VIP visitors with bouquets will be discontinued.  Guest house rooms in Raj Bhavan should not be decorated with vases and flower-pots.

7.      Meetings and interactions with Vice-Chancellors and various officers to be conducted via video conference to avoid any expenses on travel.

It is estimated that these measures will save nearly 10 to 15 percent of the budget of the Raj Bhavan in the current financial year. The Governor has already contributed his one month salary and further pledged 30% of his salary for one year to the PM CARES Fund for COVID – 19.

In the Governor’s estimation, these austerity measures will be a small but significant contribution to save resources that can be used to reduce the sufferings of the people in the backdrop of the situation arisen because of the Corona Virus Disease.

*Governor’s Austerity Measures At a Glance*

·        *No New Capital Works to be taken up in Raj Bhavan*
·        *No bouquets, gifts & mementoes for VVIPs*
·        *No Independence Day Reception this year*
·        *Car purchase for Raj Bhavan deferred*
·        *No new regular recruitment in Raj Bhavan*
·        *Meetings with Vice Chancellors, officials via video conference*
·        *Expected annual savings 10 – 15 per cent*