)
Andhra Pradesh has decided to observe fiscal discipline and financial prudence in government departments in view of deficit of revenues and to meet the funds required for various development programmes.
The state finance department issued an order instructing various economy measures. The measures include creation of posts only on absolute necessity basis, not to entertain proposals for upgradation of posts, continuation of the ban on purchase of new vehicles, exploring the possibility of reducing the number of outsourcing staff and reducing the number of hired vehicles to the barest minimum.
The order also asked the departments to reduce entertaining at government expenditure to the minimum, to avoid holding meetings and conferences at five star hotels except when absolutely necessary, not to permit proposals involving additional burden to the exchequer, not to entertain any proposal for abolition of existing revenue stream or concession of any kind, which results in reduction of revenues, not to allow foreign visits at the cost of exchequer, limit the expenditure on advertisement to the minimum and confine business class travel to ministers, other dignitaries of Cabinet rank and officials drawing salary of Rs 80,000 (fixed) per month.
Finance minister, Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, stated in a release that any failure on the part of the departments to implement the above instructions would be viewed seriously.
