Shillong: The Meghalaya government has imposed new restrictions on foreign travel by bureaucrats to two visits per year.
This decision was taken by the Meghalaya cabinet today to “rationalise” foreign sojourns of government employees on taxpayers’ money.
Tourism Minister, Paul Lyngdoh said that this decision was taken as part of the government’s fiscal reform.
“If the officers have to undertake the second visit, they have to provide a satisfactory report of the first visit,” Lyngdoh said.
He said the State government would “sponsor” the first visit of an official, but the second visit would have to be sponsored by the central government or the organizer of the event in the foreign nation if the need arises
“Only exceptions will happen if that official is visiting a foreign country to receive an award on behalf of the government of Meghalaya,” Lyngdoh, who is also the government spokesperson, said, adding that this decision would also include cabinet ministers of the state.
Meanwhile, the cabinet would assist the bureaucracy to upscale their education through sponsorship. Lyngdoh said the government would help assist government officials to “continue their learning process” at various universities and organisations.
However, there would be no study leave and the officials would have to undertake their education during “weekends or post office hours.”
Some of the courses identified would be offered by the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore or the University of Maryland, Indian Institute of Management, Shillong, OP Jindal Global University and other institutions.
Lyngdoh said the state government would fund Rs 15 lakh for these educational courses provided the official has at least 7 years of service term left. Moreover, a committee would approve these study courses.
