Subject-specific junkets planned for legislators

Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa said on Tuesday that the Legislature secretariat has been planning to make a provision for the legislators to go on subject-specific study tours abroad in batches, instead of each of the Legislature standing committees touring separately.

He said a committee of officials set up to frame new guidelines for legislators’ study tours has made certain recommendations. Accordingly, three to four teams of legislators will be formed sent abroad to conduct a study on a specific subjects like agriculture etc.

The Legislature secretariat has come out with new guidelines following criticism from various quarters against the standing committees, comprising legislators of all political parties, going on foreign junkets in the name of study tour. These panels were neither conducting any specific study nor were they submitting any report. The new guidelines are yet to be approved by the Special Board.

Kagodu said submitting a study report will be made mandatory in future and family members of the legislators will not be allowed to accompany them.

He, however, said he has no objection if the family members spend from their pockets for the journey. A calender of events will be prepared for the study tour once the new guidelines are approved. The Speaker said the Assembly secretariat has dropped a proposal to renovate the Assembly hall at the cost of Rs 50 crore following legal hurdles.