Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Mar 12: Government employees will now be entitled to avail LTC (Leave Travel Concession) facility to visit some of the SAARC countries also. A proposal to this effect is in its initial stage of processing and consideration by the Government of India. The details will be finalized soon.
Disclosing this in the Parliament here today in response to a question, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances,Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh stated that the purpose behind the proposal is to enhance people to people contact and bilateral ties within the SAARC region through increase in travel and tourism.
One of the major decisions taken by the Narendra Modi government soon after it took over, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, was to extend the facility of conversion of “Home town” LTC to visit States of Jammu & Kashmir, Northeastern region and Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar for a further period of two years up to September 25, 2016. Even though this facility had been introduced before the government took over, but its period had since lapsed,he informed.
As per the proposal to extend LTC to visit SAARC countries, pertinent to mention that this facility may be available not for all, but for some countries while certain SAARC countries may be excluded from this facility for a variety of reasons including security concerns.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, while on the one hand the Government is keen to improve the working conditions of the employees so that they are able to give their best performance to their full potential, on the other hand, the new Government will keep reviewing measures to improve the well-being of the employees and their families so that they can discharge their official responsibility without distraction. In this regard, he referred to some of the recent initiatives by the Department of Personnel & Training (DOP&T), including the decision to give “Employee of the Month” award and proposal to provide facilities like conveyance etc. even to lower level officials. The backlog of promotions and empanelment is also sought to be put on a fast track, he said. In addition, he also referred to several measures which would pave the way for e-Governance thus expediting the disposal of official work in lesser time.
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