Gehlot in a jam on cutting official cars

JAIPUR, NOV 26: Having decided to strip the bureaucracy in Rajasthan of the comfort of official vehicles, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is still trying to work out a formula to decide the fate of the 15,000-strong fleet of government cars and jeeps. The exercise is not as simple as it seemed when the council of ministers took this decision at the widely-publicised “chintan baithak” here on November 18 and 19.

Gehlot’s job has been complicated by the fact that the 15,000 vehicles imply as many drivers, if not more, whose future utilisation remains a matter of speculation. According to sources, the proposed scheme is likely to provide for the “gift” of the vehicle to its driver should he opt to leave government service under the voluntary retirement scheme. While the government may not be as benevolent to the officers as to allow them to retain the cars as “carry-home gifts”, they are likely to be allowed their use only if they bear the cost of fuel and maintenance. They would, however, get the servicesof the drivers free of charge.

The cars, according to the sources, will be offered to officers for prices as per the depreciation rates. As for those wishing to buy new cars from the market, the government will pay the difference between the bank and government interest rates since the government itself does not have any funds to give out car loans.

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Since the government has decided to implement the scheme from December 1, it has decided to cover only officers at Jaipur to start with. They have a total of 350 vehicles. The officers in the districts, who also account for the bulk of the vehicles, will be targeted only after a review of their working at a later date.

Appropriately enough, the Rajasthan Council of Ministers has resolved that since the state is passing through a grave financial crisis, the bureaucracy must sacrifice and forgo the luxury of vehicles even as the ministers themselves retain this privilege. What’s more, this selective idealism has found a ready prop from some official rulewhich entitles a minister to a government car.