Government Officials in Agriculture and Rural Development Ministries Barred from Buying Gold for a Year

Government Officials Embody Austerity Measures in Support of Prime Minister's Appeal

Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has taken significant steps to give administrative shape to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for frugality, resource conservation, and self-reliance. In response to the prime minister's call to conserve foreign exchange due to rising import costs triggered by the West Asia war, officials in the ministries of agriculture and rural development have voluntarily decided not to buy gold for one year, except for special occasions such as weddings.

This decision is in line with the government's efforts to discourage non-essential imports and trim its expenditure. To discourage gold purchases, the government imposed a 15% import duty on gold and silver on May 13, and a limit of 100 kg on gold imports under the Advance Authorisation scheme on May 14.

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The ministry has also implemented various austerity measures, including reducing government expenditure, conserving fuel, and promoting virtual working. About 20% of employees will be allowed to work from home on a rotational basis, while file processing, meetings, and regular office operations will remain unaffected. A carpooling system will be implemented once a week, and vehicle usage will be reduced by about one-third.

In addition, official visits and meetings will be more controlled and need-based, with only essential visits taking place. Where possible, reviews, consultations, and meetings will be conducted via video conferencing to prevent unnecessary travel by large delegations and reduce expenditure. A special public awareness campaign will be launched to promote balanced and healthy consumption of edible oil.

The Agriculture Department and ICAR have decided to launch a "Save the Farm Campaign" to promote natural farming and balanced fertilizer use. Scientists will visit villages and advise farmers on fertilizer use based on soil analysis and the elements present in the soil. The campaign will be implemented in a more organised and effective manner across the country for 15 days, starting June 1.

The Kharif Conference, to be held on May 28th and 29th, will place special emphasis on balanced fertilizer use, while a separate session will be held to promote natural farming. The two upcoming zonal conferences in Guwahati and Visakhapatnam will be held virtually instead of in physical mode.

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