The Goa government Tuesday declared that no new post should be created or upgraded in any department, autonomous body or corporation of the government until further orders. It also directed all departments to slash budgetary expenditure by 25 per cent for the current financial year. In a set of restrictions enforced to curb “unnecessary revenue expenditure”, the government also banned the purchase of certain items, including office furniture, computers, printers, fax machines and office vehicles till March 31. An office memorandum issued by the Department of Finance (Revenue and Growth) said the government, from time to time, has issued instructions on rationalisation of expenditure to achieve targets and standards set out in the Goa Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2006, and also to provide adequate funds for developmental activities. “For the current financial year 2024-25, every financial department shall affect a 25 per cent cut in budgetary revenue expenditure, excluding interest payments, repayment of debt, payment of salaries and pension. For the current financial year 2024-25, not more than 20 per cent of the budgetary estimates shall be spent in the remaining quarters of this financial year, except under flagship schemes of the government and wherever possible, may be reduced by 40 per cent till the financial year end,” the office memorandum read. The circular said the measures for rationalisation of expenditure are intended to curb unnecessary expenditure and provide funds for development activities under capital account as well as provision for payment of revised pay and arrears. “The finance department encourages the departments to surrender savings under revenue account by making judicious assessment of their requirements,” it added. “In order to curb unnecessary expenditure, a ban on purchases of following items is ordered with immediate effect upto March 31, 2025…furniture, cupboards and office furnishings, electrical, electronic appliances, fixtures; computers, printers, computer-related peripherals; photocopier machines, Xerox machines; air conditioners; telephone instruments, fax machines and office vehicles or staff cars,” it said. Criticising the government over the condition of the state’s economy, the Goa Forward Party said the decision to ban the purchase of these items comes just five days after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant talked about Goa achieving a Rs 1,423-crore revenue surplus. Goa Forward Party spokesperson Durgadas Kamat said, “This contradiction exposes the truth that the state’s economy is in shambles. This circular is not about austerity, it is an admission of failure. A revenue surplus should mean better investments in Goa’s future, not desperate cost-cutting measures.”
