Foreign jaunts in name of training - no free run
WHILE the Department of Expenditure has been issuing instructions from time to time on the need to curtail expenditure, especially on foreign travel, babus from the probationers to the very senior ones are enjoying their foreign excursions at Government cost.
In recent months it has been observed that Ministries/Departments have been proposing Foreign Study Tours (FSTs) of large delegations of officers as a part of training programmes. In keeping with the Government's drive on economy and rationalization of expenditure and to have an objective assessment of such FSTs, it has been decided that prior approval of the Screening Committee of Secretaries would be required for all FSTs of delegations exceeding 5 members (irrespective of level/rank of officers), where Government of India is funding such tours and which are part of career training programme(s) or stand-alone tours or otherwise.