Itanagar, May 14: In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal, the Arunachal Pradesh State Cabinet on Thursday announced a series of austerity measures to be strictly implemented across government departments.

The directives include a one-year ban on foreign travel by ministers and officials, a 50 per cent reduction in convoys of the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and other ministers, and the adoption of a “Virtual First” policy for all meetings. To ensure cost efficiency, tickets for unavoidable official travel must be booked 15 days in advance, while Leave Travel Concession (LTC) tickets must be booked 45 days ahead.

The Cabinet has also mandated 100 per cent adoption of e-office systems by subordinate offices, circle offices, and SDO headquarters by March 2027. Other measures include restrictions on new vehicle procurement except for emergency services, encouragement of carpooling and public transport use, and controlled air-conditioning temperatures of 24°C and above to optimize electricity consumption.

Further directives call for reduced use of edible oil in government schools, colleges, hospitals, and canteens, promotion of certified organic farming, and procurement of only 5-star energy-efficient electronic items. The Cabinet also emphasized the importance of supporting local economies through the “Buy Swadeshi, Buy Local” initiative.