The nation is going through an amazing austerity drive, led by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and monitored by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. The whole thing started when the external affairs duo Krishna and Tharoor were asked to vacate their five star hotel rooms to cut expenses. And then the economy drive began with all ministers asked to travel by economy class. Though Sharad Pawar and others grumbled about lack of leg space in economy, they fell in line when Madam herself started travelling economy.
And today there is a great piece of news – Rahul Gandhi travelled to Ludhiana by train (AC chair of course) instead of flight and saved Rs.447 - amazing austerity measures, so much of thrift – how lucky we are to get such leaders!
A question which crops up here is – why in heavens sake do you need to travel all around the place? Soniaji came to Mysore (in economy class of course) to inaugurate Infosys’s training centre. So now everything is clear – leaders travel all over the country to attend functions, deliver lectures, inaugurate conferences, etc, etc. When they shift from business to economy – how much are they saving? Wouldn’t it be better to not travel at all? When there is so much of concern about austerity, what is the necessity of travelling to attend inaugurations. Being an IT company, Infosys would have been happy if Sonia had done the honours via videoconferencing– now that would have been some savings.
A recent newspaper article said that the President’s office spends Rs.18 crore annually on entertainment and other such expenses. Isn’t it wiser to target such big expenses, rather than a few thousand of rupees? The President is a ceremonial post and the only work she does is chairing functions and attending inaugurations, and she has her own air fleet! Shouldn’t such wasteful expenses be targeted? Let Her Excellency stay put in Rashtrapathi Bhavan and save unnecessary travel expenses.
Similarly, other ministers too need to cut travel altogether and do their work through phone and online modes, that would be a economic and smarter alternative. Recently the Karnataka CM went to China for a long visit and came back a wiser man and proposed to enforce a two-child norm, and naturally to help him understand such family related matters, he had taken his whole family with him!
And yesterday Rampur MP Jayaprada almost (so sad) drowned while making a visit to flood affected places, her visit generated more publicity, than the fate of those affected by flood.
When a VIP comes to visit, there is a huge entourageof cars,grand reception at airport by all the state Govt officials, traffic jams, thousands of policemen deployed, media OB vans, etc, etc. Cancelling the visit will solve all these problems. Expenses are down, you have proved that you are committed to austerity and above all citizens are happy that they don't have to suffer the nuisanceof VIP visits.
So honourable leaders, don’t travel economy class – don’t travel at all – you will do a great service to people by doing so.
So what do you say friends, do VIPs need to travel all over the place. Do you they really add any value by attending a meeting or function? Isn't it better for them to stay put in their offices and do their work from there? Please do share your views.
