Legislative committees, eligible for two foreign trips during a five-year term, happily take off on ‘study tours, but hardly ever submit reports about what they studied abroad.
Every year, one or the other legislative committee is off on a ‘study tour’ and the state government shells out about `5 to 6 crore for it.
The legislature’s estimate committee, headed by Congress MLA and former minister Malikayya Guttedar, now plans to visit three South American countries---Brazil, Argentina and Peru, but its itinerary makes no mention of any meeting with officials there.
According to the itinerary, created by a private tourist operator, the committee’s 15-night and 16-day trip includes visits to holiday destinations like Rio De Janerio (3 nights), Manaus, Iguassu, Lima, Cusco, and Buenos Aires, and business destination Dubai.
The legislators are visiting three nations where English is not spoken, and have to depend on interpreters.
According to itinerary, the MLAs, immediately after landing at Rio de Janeiro (the second largest city in Brazil), leave for sight-seeing at Sugar Loaf mountains, Corcovado Peak and Tijuca, which collectively enclose a harbour described as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
The MLAs will also see the “exuberant ecosystems of Rio’s tropical urban jungle”, and a towering statue of Christ the Redeemer before leaving for Manaus, where they will see its Opera House and other important sites.
MLAs have also set aside time for shopping at Manaus. In that city, our law makers will “experience the rhythms of Samba, Tango and Paraguayan music during dinner, and a show at a local restaurant.”
In the next eight days, the MLAs will be taken to Lima and Cuzco (Peru) where they visit ancient ruins, a fortress, a rock sanctuary and other places before emplaning for Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.
In Argentina, they will be drive through Barrio Norte, “an amazing aboveground cemetery lined with mausoleums and statues and magnificent mansions and parks”.