beetle Posted January 14, 2013 Posted January 14, 2013 Notwithstanding controversy over expenditure on her foreign travels, former President Pratibha Patil ran up a bill of Rs. 18.08 crore on her last trip abroad shortly before demitting office, according to official information accessed through RTI. The chartering of the Air India Boein747-400 jumbo for her two-nation trip to South Africa and Seychelles from April 29 to May 8 last year alone cost R16.38 crore, the airline said. In addition, an expenditure of Rs. 1.46 crore was incurred in Pretoria. It was revealed last year that Patil had incurred an expenditure of R205 crore on her 12 foreign trips covering 22 countries during her five-year term. These figures were provided before she undertook the last visit to South Africa and Seychelles. The Rashtrapati Bhavan had then defended these visits terming them Ã…Ãecessary to deepen bilateral cooperation. The visits were undertaken after careful appraisal and recommendation by the PMO and the ministry of external affairs http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Pratibha-Patil-s-last-foreign-trip-cost-govt-Rs-18-08-cr/Article1-989273.aspx ------------------------------------------------- How does this descpicible woman sleep at night?Why the hell do we need Presidents to go globe trotting?What is this bloody bilateral cooperation they talk about? I really think the Presidents to stick to their primary job and do it with a bit of dignity .
EnterTheVoid Posted January 14, 2013 Posted January 14, 2013 Twenty crores equates to about four million dollars, that is a lot for a single trip lasting seven odd days.
Clarke Posted January 14, 2013 Posted January 14, 2013 http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Pratibha-Patil-s-last-foreign-trip-cost-govt-Rs-18-08-cr/Article1-989273.aspx ------------------------------------------------- How does this descpicible woman sleep at night?Why the hell do we need Presidents to go globe trotting?What is this bloody bilateral cooperation they talk about? I really think the Presidents to stick to their primary job and do it with a bit of dignity . Our total number of foreign diplomats is less than those of either Singapore or NZ. Such trips can thus be useful provided they're for building ties and encouraging trade. What happens in reality, I don't know. The President/Govt can definitely cut down massively on the Rashtrapati Bhavan expenses. 100 crores of annual maintenace including a 7 crore electricity bill sounds crazy. Twenty crores equates to about four million dollars' date=' that is a lot for a single trip lasting seven odd days.[/quote'] I'm guessing the 747's rent etc was a big percentage of that.
Recommended Posts