The government, despite its fundamental duty to execute development and welfare programmes, displays no remorse in squandering substantial sums of public money on publicising every endeavour it undertakes while essential necessities are consigned to the back burner due to a severe fiscal predicament.
In the most recent instance, the government spent Rs 161 million on promotional activities for the inauguration of the arrival of the first cargo vessel San Fernando at the Vizhinjam Port, on July 11, 2024. This expenditure arises at a juncture when the state is grappling with immense financial adversity, striving to fulfil basic obligations such as disbursing salaries, pensions, and a backlog of outstanding bills and arrears.
The breakdown of the promotional costs for the port event discloses that Rs 127 million was allocated for newspaper advertisements, Rs 19 lakh for theatre promotions, Rs 7 lakh for social media campaigns, Rs 6.87 lakh for temporary signage, and Rs 1.03 lakh for printing brochures. Critics contend that this spending is not only excessive but also misplaced, given the pressing financial challenges confronting the state.
The financial strain on the state has reached critical levels. With the introduction of treasury controls, there are burgeoning concerns that the state administration could grind to a halt, as even minor payments are now encountering delays. The government has already decided to slash Plan funds by 50%, indicating a drastic reduction in funding for development projects. Furthermore, it has proclaimed a review of all projects surpassing Rs 100 million to assess their necessity, a move that underscores the urgency of the financial crisis.
In an endeavour to augment non-tax revenue, the state government has instructed all departments to increase fees for services rendered to the public. This decision has ignited further discontent among citizens who are already feeling the pinch of the economic downturn. Many are questioning why the government is spending lakhs on a PR event when essential services are at risk of being compromised.
The first mother ship arrived at Vizhinjam on July 11, commencing the trial operations of the port. The project is being promoted by the state government, in collaboration with Adani Group, for which the government entered into an agreement with the company in Aug 2015.
