Govt to save Rs 3 lakh on ministers' tours!

The government expects the expenses on tours of ministers and former Prime Ministers in the current fiscal to be Rs 3 lakh less than the total budget allocation, but still this would be more than Rs 160 crore (Rs 1.6 billion).

In the interim Budget for 2009-10, the government on Monday proposed a non-plan budget allocation of Rs 160.76 crore towards tour expenses of the Cabinet -- a provision intended for expenditure on travel by Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State and ex-PMs.

The government had allocated the same amount in the Budget of 2008-09 last year, but it has been now revised down to Rs 160.73 crore.

Among other budget allocations for the Cabinet, the government has sought higher provisions in 2009-10 towards the Prime Minister's Office, Cabinet Secretariat, National

Security Council Secretariat, Special Protection Group, Office of Principal Scientific Adviser and for hospitality and entertainment expenses.

The provisions have been, however, kept unchanged for salaries of ministers as also for their 'sumptuary and other allowances' at Rs 1.93 crore (Rs 19.3 million) and Rs 4.92 crore (Rs 49.2 million) respectively.

The budget allocation is being raised for PMO to Rs 23.39 crore for 2009-10 from Rs 18.04 crore in the last Budget, which has been revised to Rs 22.58 crore for 2008-09.