National Conference of Estimates Committee : Expenses worth crores of rupees, working hours only four and a half!

600 members stayed in five-star hotels
Most time spent in inauguration and sightseeing

Mumbai – More than 600 delegates from across the country had arrived for the ‘National Conference’ held in Maharashtra, to discuss how public money can be spent prudently and its wastage be avoided in the schemes being implemented in the country. They stayed in five-star hotels in Mumbai for 4 days. Crores of rupees were spent on their accommodation and food arrangements; however, only four and a half hours were spent in 2 days for the conference. Most of that time was spent on the inaugural session and the speeches. These delegates, who came from across the country for the important issue of achieving economic stability for the country, did not devote even a full day out of the 2 days to the conference. They spent more time visiting tourist places in Mumbai than the conference. Citizens are raising question if public money was wasted over the conference, which was meant to discuss prevention of wastage of public money.

In order to make the Estimates Committees of the Lok Sabha, all the States and Union Territories more efficient, this National Conference was organized on 23^rd and 24^thJune in the Vidhan Bhavan of Maharashtra. The conference was attended by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajya Sabha Chairman, and the Chairman of the Central Estimates Committee. Members of the Estimates Committees of all the States and Union Territories, including the Lok Sabha, and the concerned officers had come to Maharashtra for this conference. The chairmen of the Estimates Committees of each State and along with them, 4 MLAs and some MPs were also present. Arrangements were made for more than 300 such public representatives at the ‘Taj’ hotel, while arrangements were made for more than 300 officers accompanying them at the ‘Trident’ hotel.

Crores of rupees spent on the arrangements of the members of the Estimates Committee

While speaking at this conference, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had stated that ‘the Estimates Committee will work to ensure that every penny of the country is used for the welfare of the people’. Crores of rupees have been spent on arrangements for the members of this Estimates Committee; but in comparison, little work was done.

Working hours could have been extended : Ajit Bhole, Secretary, Maharashtra State Legislature

We had sent the proposed working of this conference to the Lok Sabha. More time was allocated for the working; however, the schedule was changed at the eleventh hour. Earlier, such conferences used to be held for 3-4 days. The last day used to be kept for sightseeing. This time, more time could have been given for the work, said Jitendra Bhole, Secretary of the Maharashtra State Legislature, while talking to the correspondent of ‘Sanatan Prabhat’.