Crores spent on statues, Maya remembers austerity

TALKING AUSTERITY: Mayawati has reportedly asked her partymen to cut down their travel expenses.

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Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Tuesday took a leaf out of Congress's book by prescribing austerity for her cabinet colleagues and senior bureaucrats.

In an unusual diktat issued in Lucknow on Tuesday, Mayawati directed her cabinet colleagues as well as top bureaucrats to shun meetings and parties at five-star hotels, with immediate effect.

She has also ordered a ban on greetings cards during festivals, as also on issue of diaries and calendars on the occasion of New Year.

The Chief Minister was said to have taken the decision in the wake of "increased financial burden on account of implementation of the sixth pay commission".

Among the other austerity measures ordered by her were "a ban on opening of new inspection bungalows or guest houses, construction of new offices or residences in places other than newly carved out districts as also on purchase of new vehicles other than those engaged in security services".

Senior officers were instructed to cut down their travel expenses and avoid taking their personal or subordinate staff while travelling outside their station of posting.

The Chief Minister has also directed officials to shun participation in special courses or seminars outside their place of posting to curtail their travel bills.