No foreign junkets for AP Ministers

• Only cabinet Ministers allowed in business class, remaining in economy class
• Departments asked to avoid organising conferences, seminars in 5-star hotels
• Reduce outsourcing staff wherever possible: Yanamala

Hyderabad: In a move to cut down unnecessary expenses and save the exchequer, AP Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, in a press release on Wednesday, said no foreign visits would be allowed for the Ministers at the cost of the State.

The release also added according to GO No 2259 which was released on July 28 all Ministers of Cabinet rank and officials drawing a salary of Rs 80,000 would be permitted to travel by air in the business class as per eligibility. The remaining, who were eligible to travel by air, would travel in economy class. Similarly all the departments were advised to avoid organising conferences and seminars in five-star hotels. The new GO also curtails creation of new jobs, unless absolutely necessary and all departments should review the necessity of continuing outsourcing staff. The heads of the departments were asked to reduce the number of outsourcing staff, wherever it was possible.

However, there would be no proposal to effect any change in the revenue generating departments. But the heads of these departments were warned of action if there was fall in revenues. All the departments were asked to reduce the number of hired vehicles to bare necessity.