Chhattisgarh Govt Enforces Strict Austerity Measures, Orders Major Cuts in Public Spending
Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government has introduced immediate austerity measures and financial discipline guidelines across all departments to ensure prudent management of state resources.
According to orders issued by Finance Secretary Dr Rohit Yadav, the directives will remain effective till September 30, 2026. All Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, Division Commissioners, and District Collectors have been directed to ensure strict compliance.
Restrictions on Official Vehicles and Fuel Usage
The Finance Department has ordered a major reduction in the use of official vehicles. The number of vehicles in the convoys of the Chief Minister, ministers, and heads of corporations, boards, and commissions will now be limited to only essential vehicles.
To reduce petrol and diesel expenses, departments have been instructed to keep fuel consumption at the minimum possible level. Vehicle pooling has been made mandatory for officials travelling to the same destination. The government has also directed departments to gradually replace existing government vehicles with electric vehicles (EVs).
Complete Ban on Foreign Travel
The state government has imposed a total ban on foreign travel by officials at government expense. Exceptions will only be allowed in unavoidable circumstances with prior approval from Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
Focus on Virtual Meetings and Paperless Offices
To cut administrative costs, departments have been asked to limit physical meetings to a maximum of once a month. Routine review meetings will now be conducted through video conferencing.
Officials have been directed to use PDFs and PowerPoint presentations instead of printed documents and booklets during meetings. All official correspondence and files must be processed through the e-Office system to reduce expenditure on paper and stationery.
Energy Conservation and Digital Training
Government offices have been instructed to switch off all lights, fans, air conditioners, and computers immediately after office hours. Departments must also take steps to prevent wastage of electricity in government buildings.
Instead of organizing physical training sessions, departments have been directed to maximize the use of the iGOT Karmayogi portal. All departments must upload their training modules on the portal to reduce the need for physical training programmes.
