From 50 Years Ago: Ministerial Tours

Dr B V Krishna Murti’s outspoken criticism of ministerial extravagance in the context of the present emergency must receive the widest attention. As one who is connected with the lower echelons of the administration and with ministerial tours and engagements, I can unhesitatingly say that ministerial extravagance is seen at … its worst during their tours…

The ministerial retinue generally consists of directors, secretaries and a big clerical battalion. The Tahsildars and the B D Os, on whom the responsibility of looking after the comforts of the ‘entourage’ falls, have to foot the bill for the Minister’s “comfortable stay”. Ministers not unoften judge the efficiency of the district level administrators by the comforts afforded to them on their tours.