Click to play videoNew Delhi: A fresh controversy is brewing in the Union Government with the Ministry for Development of the North Eastern Region (MDONER) asking Government officials to go take the Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) and explore the Northeast. But the Ministry of Finance is s vigorously resisting the move.
If the MDONER has its way then the 7 lakh Union Government employees would be travelling to the Northeast during the holiday season.
"Here is a destination which is well worth exploring. I am particularly hoping that the inveterate domestic travellers from India who are largely concentrated in Bengal and Gujarat will pick up on this idea," Mani Shankar Aiyar, Minister of DONER, says.
But the Ministry of Finance headed by P Chidambaram is not too keen on Aiyar's "go Northeast" campaign because it would mean having to change a rule and reimburse airfare as most of the region is inaccessible by rail.
"It is the job of the Finance Ministry to turn down all interesting proposals from other ministries. I am keen on taking this up in the Cabinet and hopefully they will take a more liberal view," Aiyar adds.
The directive of the MDONER can be called 'Babu tourism' but even if one per cent of the government officials travel from Delhi to the Northeast that will bring in about 7,000 tourists.
And some thinking Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer might just find out what is wrong with the grand policies for the region.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
More on IBNLive Right Now
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
