Austerity impact on Bengal CM meet lunch, mutton and tiger prawns go missing from menu

KOLKATA: Austerity showed on the menu as ministers and bureaucrats settled for a frugal meal with rohu fish and paneer at the CM's lunch at Nabanna on Thursday. Mutton and tiger prawns were missing, indicating what Mamata Banerjee was heading for. Banerjee wanted to cut down on luxury and judiciously use public money without compromising on public-oriented projects.
Prior to this, the state government clubbed as many as 12 departments to bring down office expenditure, use of cars and keep a tab on departmental budgets so that the priority areas don't get neglected. The purpose for the fund-starved state has been to maximize utilization of public funds when Bengal has to fork out Rs 46,000 crore on account of debt servicing.

"We won't compromise with projects. Public money is for the people. We have thus decided to cut down on other expenditure as part of the austerity drive," the CM said. Chief secretary Malay De on July 2 issued a 15-point economy measure asking to reduce refreshment costs at meetings and curtail decoration costs at event venues. The state has put a curb on foreign and Delhi trips. Purchase of cars is a strict no no along with installation of air-conditioners. Air travels will be in economy class. Increased video-conferences and use of pool cars were also suggested in the meeting.

The CM also took on the Centre for its "step-motherly" attitude towards Bengal. While the Centre claimed that it has raised the devolution of tax to states to 42%, the CM complained that it has withdrawn support to various social schemes.

The CM said that in order to pay DA to the state employees the exchequer needs to shell out Rs 5,000 crore. She said the budget in 2011 was Rs 11,000 crore and now it is Rs 80,000 crore.