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Khattar govt’s upcoming Chintan Shivir at a private hill resort draws flak
As per a tentative estimate, the state government will end up shelling at least Rs 10-12 lakhs on hiring rooms at the hill resort for two nights besides spending about Rs 9-10 lakhs on vegetarian meals sans liquor.
The mantra of austerity seems to be gradually getting lost among the political fraternity. The first time BJP government in Haryana led by a first time MLA and pracharak of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), Manohar Lal Khattar, once drew pride in being cost conscious. But not anymore.
The Khattar government is drawing flak for planning to hold a three-day Chintan Shivir (workshop on governance issues), for bureaucrats and ministers at an upscale private resort, Timber Trail Heights, in the neighbouring Himachal Pradesh from December 15 to 17.
As per a tentative estimate, the state government will end up shelling at least Rs 10-12 lakhs on hiring rooms at the hill resort for two nights besides spending about Rs 9-10 lakhs on vegetarian meals sans liquor. It is expected that around 100 people, including ministers, IAS, IPS and IFS officers, along with other officials and security personnel will be present at the three-day Shivir. While the officers have been asked to share rooms, there is no clarity yet on the accommodation for ministers. All the BJP MLAs have also been invited for lunch on the last day.
The move to hold the Shivir at the private hill resort has invited criticism from the opposition parties. Leader of the opposition, Abhay Singh Chautala, said the government could have held the Shivir at Haryana Tourism resorts at Surajkund in Faridabad or Morni in Panchkula. “On one hand chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar preaches austerity by travelling in economy class but on the other hand, the state government does not shy away from splurging on the tax payers money by organising an event at a private resort and that too in another state,’’ said Chautala.
The INLD leader said the Chintan Shivir will bring out no results. “If they really intend to do something for the people, then they should show results. If we come to power, we will recover the public money spent by this government on party affairs like these,’’ Chautala warned.
Former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda too criticised the move to hold a government event at a private resort in a neighbouring state. “The law and order situation is so grim. They should think more about it. The BJP only knows three things—charcha (discussion), bhojan ( meals) and vishram (rest),’’ said Hooda ridiculing the move to have Shivir.
What’s in store for the participants
The ministers and officers will be taken to the hill resort in buses and no official or personal vehicle will be allowed. They will be ferried to the heights in cable cars on the ropeway. However, they will have access to their official vehicles to leave for Chandigarh on the final day of the event.
The chief minister will address the participants on the opening day and later a separate groups of participants will be asked to discuss the strategy to be adopted for implementing the vision of the chief minister. There will be cultural programmes, followed by dinner, on both the evenings. The participants will also have the option to do yoga in the morning from 6 to 7.
There will also be a common session to discuss the work done by different groups whether their discussions were in accordance with the vision of chief minister and what needs to be done to achieve the goals set by him. There will be group discussions on agriculture reforms for doubling the income of farmers, water utilisation till the last drop and making Haryana Saksham. “We are negotiating the tariff with the resort. The government has opted for low cost rooms at the heights costing about Rs 12,000 each,’’ said an official.
