Only subject-related study tour for elected reps: Panel

Legislators' last year foreign tour had come under criticism

Legislators keen on foreign tours will now have to finalise a topic of mutual interest that they are keen on studying, then form a group and submit a proposal for study tour abroad.

A committee appointed by Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa on framing guidelines for foreign tours of legislators has recommended changes in the present practice of the legislature standing panels going aboard.

The committee, comprising Legislature Secretaries P Omprakash and V Shreesh, has suggested that the present norm of allowing legislators to go on foreign tours twice during their tenure of five years on State expenses, be retained.

Submit proposal

Speaking to media in Bangalore, Thimmappa said he had accepted the recommendations made by the committee.

According to officials, legislators will now have to finalise a topic of interest – say studying drip irrigation in Israel, form a group and submit a proposal to the Speaker on why they should venture on the tour.

“Each group can comprise 30 to 40 members and venture abroad. But it must be a subject-related study tour,” Thimmappa said.

Last year, legislators’ study tours abroad had come under criticism from the public on the ground that the tours were being undertaken when the State was reeling under drought. 

The tours were taken by various legislature standing committees like the estimates committee, public accounts committee and so forth.

Further, the trips had become junkets rather than study tours. In the wake of the public outcry, Thimmappa had constituted the panel to frame guidelines for foreign tours of the legislators.