NEW DELHI: Before the weekend hush descended on Raisina Hills last Friday, senior babus in top ministries were left shaken and stirred by a government circular clearly aimed at shattering their globe-trotting dreams. The three-page note advised the bureaucrats to encourage their juniors to travel abroad in their place to handle official matters. The note also imposed on the officials stringent conditions that had to be met before the green light was given for their take-off.
The circular issued by the Department of Expenditure and signed by a joint secretary asked the babus—all secretaries, joint secretaries and financial advisers—to seek help of respective Indian missions abroad or seek help from an officer of the respective ministry already stationed abroad for official work instead of flying out officials from Delhi. It has also “suggested” deputation of director- and deputy secretary-level officers for work abroad instead of sending officers of higher rank. “Why the purpose cannot be served by any other officer already abroad in the same or neighbouring country?” the note sought to know.
The circular, which has asked the babus to furnish 19-point details, categorically stated that all points needed to be addressed satisfactorily, “failing which proposals will be returned unprocessed by the Department of Expenditure.” Besides, babus will have to disclose the details of all foreign visits made in the last three years and name of the colleague or companion on all such official foreign trips.
If a group of bureaucrats are travelling together, they will have to provide details regarding unique expertise of each member in separate annexure clearly stating why his or her participation would be necessary. The move is aimed to ensure that the babus with specific skills required for the official foreign trip is allowed to travel. Moreover, bureaucrats will not be allowed to travel abroad to present research papers, to attend seminars or workshops.
The latest note comes on the heels of a recent communiqué of the Cabinet Secretariat issued on the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The missive related to foreign travel by babus suggested that all the documents must reach to competent authority at least 10 days in advance for proper scrutiny. In a letter to all the ministries, Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth on June 12 observed that foreign tour permissions are being sought in the nick of time and authority cannot scrutinise the documents in such a short duration.
“The Prime Minister has expressed concerns at this practice, and has directed that the proposals for visits abroad should reach the competent authority at least 10 days before the date of proposed visit,” Seth wrote to all secretaries in the Central Government, adding that each proposal must have details of the tasks the officer is planning to accomplish during that visit.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s directive, the Cabinet Secretary had mentioned that while submitting the proposal, officers must give details of outcome of earlier visit and the results thereof should also be included in the file.