State's NRI cell a costly affair 3 Sep 2008, 0455 hrs IST, Gauree Malkarnekar,TNN http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Goa/States_NRI_cell_a_costly_affair_/articleshow/3438744.cms PANAJI: Expenditure incurred by the state commissionerate for NRI affairs has amounted to nearly Rs 1 crore over the last 1 year alone. In fact, from June 1, 2007 to July 31, 2008, the NRI cell cost the Goa government a whopping Rs 98.95 lakh, as per chief minister Digambar Kamat's reply to a question by Mapusa MLA Francis D'Souza at the recent Assembly session. While salaries of the commissionerate's employees amounted to Rs 14.82 lakh, an amount of Rs 43.76 lakh had been marked as 'other charges' on official records. What the amount was utilised for has not been specified. Interestingly, the account for 'other charges' has varied from Rs 2,233 in April 2008, to Rs 13.10 lakh in the May 2008, over the period spanning June 1, 2007 to July 31, 2008. The 3-day 'Global Goans Convention, 2007' cost the state exchequer Rs 39.31 lakh. While the commissioner for NRI affairs, Eduardo Faleiro, said it is only the director who can explain the finances of the office, the director U D Kamat said, "These are not office expenses alone, but include the domestic and foreign travel of the commissioner." "The normal budget for the NRI cell is around Rs 1 crore a year. Last year in fact, it has been lesser - around Rs 98 lakh for over a year," he added. 'Snacks, working lunches and dinners' hosted as part of the convention held from January 3 to 5, 2007, proved the most expensive at Rs 7.05 lakh. Mementos and souvenirs handed over to delegates at the convention cost Rs 6.67 lakh. Rs 5.45 lakh were the charges for 'event management including cultural entertainment programmes' for the conference, which was attended by 200 delegates. Highlighting the importance of holding the convention, U D Kamat said, "It's objective is to honour Goans that have made a mark internationally. It provides Goans a common platform to discuss issues related to the state." The 'economy class air fare reimbursed to 6 recipients of the global Goans achievement awards' amounted to Rs 5.34 lakh. Hotel accomodation for the awardees, heads of diplomatic missions in India and officers of ministry of external affairs invited were as much at Rs 5.14 lakh. While the foreign travel expenses of the employees of the NRI cell were Rs 5.53 lakh, Rs 4.89 lakh was utilised towards domestic travels. The cell also spent Rs 6.64 lakh for advertising and publicity. var RN = new String (Math.random()); var RNS = RN.substring (2,11); b2 = ' '; if (doweshowbellyad==1) bellyad.innerHTML = b2; Forwarded by: Goa's Pride - http://www.goa-world.com http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=_Avn6_AepNw&feature=related Gulf-Goans e-Newsletter is presented by Ulysses Menezes, www.goa-world.com and moderated by Gaspar Almeida (since 1994) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fywTuf-9S0k&feature=email
[Goanet] Goa's NRI cell a costly affair, salaries of the commissionerate's employees amount to Rs 14.82 lakh
Goa's Pride www.goa-world.com Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:16:39 -0700
