Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Fund crunch may hit MLA tours too

By Radha Venkatesan

Chennai Nov. 11. The financial crunch faced by the State Government first put on hold the pay hike of the MLAs. Now it has "held up" their annual tours to other States too.

The State Assembly department had sent a proposal to the Government on sending 12 Legislative committees on an annual tour of other States — especially Mumbai, Goa and West Bengal — in September. But, the Government is yet to give its nod, and for over two months now, the elected representatives have been waiting for the clearance.

For the State Government, a one-week jaunt, including at least three or four days of sightseeing, would cost a minimum of Rs. 4.5 lakhs. If all the committees were to go on tours, a minimum of Rs. 60 lakhs would be required. As of now, the Government may not like to indulge the MLAs.

But some of the elected representatives are upset.

They argue that the tours are not pleasure trips, but opportunities for learning.

Despite the financial crisis last year, two committees including the Assurances panel, were allowed to fly to north India.

The Assurances Committee chairman and Vellore MLA, C.Gnanasekaran says, " It is not a wasteful expenditure. Most of our MLAs may not have had the exposure to how Assembly panels function in other States and how the administration is run there.

It will be an enlightening visit. Is there no wasteful expenditure by the Government? Why should it stop our trips?"

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