MUMBAI: After facing criticism for planning to purchasing 886 trolley bags for legislators, each priced around Rs 10,000 to distribute a copy of the state budget and other related documents to MLAs and MLCs on a pendrive, Maharashtra govt has scrapped the decision.
Opposition and activists criticised govt, stating that at a time when it is going digital and promoting e-cabinets, spending Rs 82 lakh on bags was unnecessary.
TOI had reported the decision to buy trolley bags.
“Administrative approval was granted for the tender process for the procurement of 886 hard-top, four-wheeler, luggage trolley bags for the distribution of budget publications in pendrives to members of the legislature and others. This decision is being cancelled,” said a finance department govt resolution.
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar criticised govt over the unnecessary expense.
“Govt does not have money to help families of farmers who committed suicide, but a provision of Rs 82 lakh has been madefor bags provided to MLAs to keep budget publications. Looking at this, I feel that everyone needs to think about what the govt’s spending priorities should be,” Rohit posted on X.
“After the budget, it is customary to give bags to legislators to keep the budget books. Customs and traditions are started according to the needs of the time, but with the changing times, unnecessary customs and traditions also have to be changed. Today, when digital tools are available, if the practice of giving expensive bags is not changed, even Digital India policy of respected PM Modi Saheb will not have any meaning. The finance minister of our state is disciplined. DCM Shinde is a common man, CM is a scholar, so he must stop such customs and traditions,” Rohit’s post read.
“A bag of Rs 10,000 to provide a copy of the budget to MLAs on a pendrive — a cost of Rs 82 lakhs! Basically, the budget is available on the website (if not, it should be), so is there a need to provide a pendrive? If some MLAs do not understand digital files, then it would be fine to keep one or two copies in the legislature library. Why spend Rs 82 lakhs for that?” activist Vijay Kumbhar said.