Amid reports of its apparent inability to pay compensation to poor farmers due to a debt burden of over Rs2.85 lakh crore comes the story of distribution of largesse by the Maharashtra government.
Amid reports of its apparent inability to pay compensation to poor farmers due to a debt burden of over Rs2.85 lakh crore comes the story of distribution of largesse by the Maharashtra government.
According to a latest circular issued by the general administration department (GAD), the state has allowed all ministers, ministers of state, chief, principal and under secretaries and PRO to have TV sets worth up to Rs1 lakh each in their offices.
Additionally, they would be given Rs5,000 for a set-top box and Rs1,000 a month towards cable connection.
Sources say that image-conscious BJP-Sena government wants its ministers and IAS officers to keep a tab on the media. The exercise aims for that, says a senior BJP minister.
Official records show that there are 20 cabinet and 10 minister of states in Maharashtra. This apart, there are 56 senior bureaucrats who are eligible for the idiot boxes. The translates into an expenditure of about Rs10 crore.
A quick look at price-comparing sites shows that one can buy a 50-55 inch full HD LED TVs (with 3D support) of brands like Vu, Sony and Panasonic with Rs 1 lakh.
GAD officials said the circular is some sort of a policy for purchase of TVs. "Until now, there was no cap on such expenses. Minister and IAS officers used to purchase TVs at departmental level and would claim reimbursement later," said an official.
The official said that since there were huge discrepancies in the process, it had led to a virtual race among ministers and officers to get the most expensive TV set in the market – At least six cabins have been fitted with TV sets worth Rs1.5 lakh to Rs2 lakh. "The cap of Rs1 lakh seeks to streamline such expenses."
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who handles the GAD portfolio, was unavailable for comments. A top official from the department said, "Many ministers and babus already have huge screens fitted in their cabins. The current cap would be applicable for new purchases only."
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