SHILLONG :Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Wednesday said the Meghalaya government has put fresh proposals for official foreign tours on hold following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for austerity measures.
Speaking to reporters, Sangma clarified that only new proposals have been paused, while foreign visits that had already received political and financial clearance before the Prime Minister’s announcement were allowed to proceed.
According to the chief minister, many of the earlier tours had been planned months in advance, with bookings already completed and expenses incurred after obtaining the necessary approvals from the Centre.
“These programmes usually take three to six months of preparation. Clearances had already been granted and arrangements were already in place,” Sangma said.
He added that the state government decided not to stop those visits midway, but said fresh proposals are currently not being entertained.Sangma revealed that nearly seven to eight new proposals for foreign travel have already been put on hold following the Prime Minister’s direction.
“Since the Prime Minister’s announcement, we have not entertained new proposals,” he said.
Although Meghalaya has not yet issued a formal state notification regarding restrictions on official foreign travel, the chief minister said the government is adhering to the Centre’s direction in the larger national interest.
“We are following the Prime Minister’s direction in the interest of the nation,” Sangma added.
The Centre’s austerity push comes amid growing emphasis on reducing non-essential expenditure and prioritising fiscal discipline across government departments.
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