Implement ‘No Gifts’ Order In Letter & Spirit

The finance ministry’s order restraining exchange of gifts during Diwali and other festivals using public funds tells a sordid fact that the ‘sparks only fly when there’s a fire’, meaning that there is a practice prevailing in various departments and ministries whereby officials exchange gifts using exchequer which was unethical and unauthorized. The Finance Ministry’s Department of Expenditure said the move to stop spending public funds on festive season gifts is part of a larger policy of ‘curbing non-essential expenditure’. This is really unfortunate that the government has to come up with such a direction restraining the officials from siphoning exchequer in the shape of exchanging gifts on festivals because under no circumstance any government official can spend public funds for personal purposes. It is strange that reportedly, the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, has been issuing instructions from time to time aimed at promoting fiscal discipline and curbing non-essential expenditure. The need of the time is that all such expenditures should be considered to be corrupt practice and there is a need to take punitive action against those taking such undue liberties. Until the government takes a firm stand in the case, it is necessary that the a mechanism should be put in place to keep a check on such siphoning of public money and strict action must be taken against the ones who fail to comply in letter and spirit. For sure, this is a wrongful precedent and should be curbed henceforth. All said and done, issuing such orders will make no difference rather enforcing them with accountability is the real challenge and should be ensured by strict implementation on ground. This exchange of gifts using public funds is a dangerous precedent and can mar the principle of government being the welfare state as spending exchequer on personal things is not at all justified. The message should be loud and clear that the public funds are meant for public welfare, not personal pleasantries. The concerned quarters should act tough against such unethical traditions prevailing in the system to ensure justice delivery without any compromise.