Guwahati: The Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Assam cabinet, in its very first meeting after being sworn in for a second term, adopted a series of austerity measures in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for economic self-reliance and responsible nation-building amid West Asia crisis.Sarma said the cabinet had carefully considered the PM’s call to save foreign exchange and reduce dependence on imported fuel.As part of the measures, the cabinet decided to downsize convoys of the governor, chief minister, ministers and senior officials with the aim to cut down fuel consumption and set an example of restraint at the highest levels of govt.“The cabinet decided that the govt will cut down 20% of the expenses incurred on fuel purchase in the last financial year,” Sarma said.The cabinet resolved that no govt official will travel abroad for official or private purposes over the next six months, except in medical emergencies.The cabinet also announced a freeze on new vehicle purchases by the govt for the next six months. “Also, if the govt needs to hire vehicles, it will be only electric vehicles and not petrol or diesel-run,” he said.To further cut costs, the cabinet decided to discourage seminars, workshops and physical meetings, with greater emphasis on online conferences and virtual interactions.Sarma added that the govt will encourage scrapping of old vehicles.The measures come in the wake of Modi’s warning that the ongoing military conflict in West Asia could trigger a crisis ‘bigger than the global Covid pandemic’. The PM had urged both citizens and govts to adopt austerity and fuel-saving practices to safeguard India’s economic stability.
