A whopping over Rs 1,500 crore was spent by various central government ministries on foreign travel during the last three years, the Lok Sabha was informed.

Of the total of Rs 1,537 crore spent by ministries, a total of Rs 509.91 crore was during 2014-15, Rs 434.94 crore in 2013-14 and Rs 593.09 crore during 2012-13, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh said in a written reply.

Among the 62 ministries which spent the amount, the highest of Rs 351.65 crore was spent alone by Ministry of Personnel in last fiscal and Rs 289.92 crore in 2013-14 and Rs 453.95 crore during 2012-13, he said.

The home ministry had spent Rs 30.24 crore in 2014-15 and Rs 14.13 crore during 2013-14.

Commerce ministry, and Civil Aviation and Tourism ministries spent Rs 6.95 crore and Rs 9.45 crore last fiscal on foreign travel, the Minister said.

Singh said as many as 15 officers were on foreign deputation last year. Of them, seven were from Ministry of External Affairs, five from Department of Economic Affairs and one each from Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (which is now under foreign ministry), Civil Aviation Ministry and Department of Commerce, he said.

As per the latest instructions issued by Department of Expenditure, not more than four official visits abroad in a calender year and such trips shall not exceed five working days.

The size of delegation has to be kept to the absolute minimum and participation of officials in international fairs, exhibitions, workshops and conference shall be discouraged, it said.

PTI

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New Delhi: Government officials undertaking foreign trips will have to clearly spell out the outcome of such tours. All those who undertook official foreign visits since 2013-14 need to submit details of the outcome of such tours in the next few days.

The move comes against the backdrop of persistent feeling in many quarters that the trips, ostensibly for gaining experience and insights, often turn into pleasure jaunts.

There have been cases of officials traveling abroad in numbers more than necessary, stretching the duration of stay and visiting and stopping at places irrelevant to the stated purpose of the trip.

In keeping with the new work culture, the NDA government has created a website under its Software Management Information System for uploading details of foreign tours and visits by officials.

Ministries and departments have set a December-end deadline for its officials to upload details on this portal.

Moreover, every ministry and department has been directed to prepare a “rolling plan” for future foreign visits to be undertaken by officials.

“The idea behind the rolling plan is to submit the proposed trips of officials in the next quarter. This can be updated and amended. Government wants foreign trips by officials on government expenditure to be result-oriented,” said a senior government official.

According to sources, cabinet secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha recently called a meeting to ensure that officials and departments comply with the decision.

“In certain cases, it’s difficult to get the details of foreign visits by officials, who have already gone back to the states or are retired. But the message has gone to one and all to provide the outcomes of their visits since they must be keeping some details.

We are also trying to get the records kept in departments so that some details can be uploaded,” said a government source.

TNN

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