MANDI (Munish Sood)
In a significant move to cut expenses, the Himachal Pradesh government has introduced strict guidelines preventing officials from undertaking foreign trips without prior approval.
The decision comes in response to repeated instances where bureaucrats travelled abroad under the guise of training and awareness programmes, often at the expense of taxpayers’ money.
For years, foreign tours had become a routine perk for top bureaucrats, with little to show in terms of benefits for the state. Lavish stays, business-class flights and extravagant allowances turned these “educational trips” into unofficial vacations, draining state funds that could have been used for development projects.
Taxpayers’ money wasted on luxury travel
Investigations have revealed multiple cases of misuse. A glaring example was the former Chief Secretary and Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) Chairman, Shrikant Baldi, who allegedly misused public funds by purchasing apple boxes worth Rs 44,000 for bureaucrats in different states. This sparked controversy, leading to official scrutiny.
Similarly, a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) found that the Himachal Pradesh government had spent Rs 1,782.17 crore more than the approved budget, with a significant portion going into unauthorized expenditures, including unnecessary foreign tours.
In another instance, a delegation of senior officers visited Europe for an “urban development awareness program,” only to return with no actionable plans. Sources revealed that instead of studying European models of urban planning, the officials spent most of their time in luxury hotels, sightseeing, and shopping.
Government’s tough stand on foreign tours
Amid growing public anger over the wastage of funds, the government has now enforced strict rules on foreign trips. As per the new guidelines issued by Personnel Secretary M. Sudha Devi, IAS, HAS, and Secretariat Service officers must obtain prior approval from the Personnel Department before traveling abroad. Any violations will be considered a breach of conduct rules, leading to disciplinary action.
A letter from Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena to all administrative secretaries, department heads, divisional commissioners, and board directors makes it clear: applications for foreign tours submitted retrospectively will be rejected. Moreover, officials will no longer be able to recommend their own names for such trips without prior clearance from the Personnel Department.
Public reaction and the way forward
The move has been widely welcomed by citizens, who have long questioned the necessity of these trips. Many believe that funds previously wasted on such excursions should now be redirected toward essential infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
Experts suggest that further transparency is needed, including public disclosure of official trips, their expenses, and outcomes. Analysts argue that if bureaucrats truly need international exposure, they should provide post-trip reports detailing how their learnings will be implemented in Himachal Pradesh.
With the government finally taking a tough stand, officials will now have to justify the necessity of every foreign trip. This crackdown is expected to bring much-needed accountability and ensure that public funds are used for the welfare of citizens, not bureaucratic luxury.
