Jaipur, May 24: Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to conserve petrol and diesel, the Rajasthan government has issued a circular prohibiting ministers, officials, and employees from undertaking foreign travel at government expense. The circular also outlines various energy-saving measures.
The Finance Department’s directive aims to reduce government expenditure and promote fuel conservation. All departments are instructed to strictly adhere to these guidelines.
Under the new policy, all vehicles purchased by government departments and public institutions in the future will be electric vehicles (EVs). Existing petrol and diesel vehicles will be gradually replaced with EVs. In the first phase, EVs will be acquired only for officials operating within city limits. The use of EVs will eventually extend to vehicles rented under government contracts.
Key features of the Finance Department’s circular include promoting carpooling among officials and employees, restricting meetings and events within government premises, reducing the number of government convoys, and encouraging video conferencing and digital governance.
According to the circular, officials and employees traveling in the same direction are instructed to utilize carpooling for their commutes. Both government and private vehicles can be used to ensure shared travel. Government departments, autonomous bodies, and public sector undertakings (PSUs) are now prohibited from holding meetings or events in hotels.
The circular states that all official events must be conducted in government buildings. It also emphasizes that all dignitaries entitled to convoys should minimize the use of non-essential vehicles.
The government will also develop an action plan to strengthen electric vehicle charging infrastructure and expedite the approval of pending charging station proposals. Departments are directed to conduct meetings via video conferencing wherever possible, minimizing face-to-face gatherings.
To reduce paperwork, the use of e-office, e-files, and the ‘Raj-Kaj’ portal has been made mandatory. Training programs for officials and employees will now be held online instead of gathering staff in one location. The government will promote the installation of solar panels on rooftops under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana.
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