New Delhi: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday announced that officials of the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministries under his leadership have collectively decided not to purchase gold for the next one year.
The decision comes in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal urging citizens to use resources wisely in order to strengthen the Indian economy and minimise the impact of the ongoing West Asia conflict.
Chouhan said officials from the agriculture, rural development and related departments have agreed to adopt austerity-style measures focused on responsible spending and reduced unnecessary consumption.
He stated that official tours and government travel by ministry officers would also be restricted and approvals would only be granted when absolutely necessary.
According to the minister, physical visits will now be limited to highly essential work, while most meetings and official interactions will be conducted through video conferencing and other virtual platforms.
