The Hindu : 20% of Foreign Office budget goes to Bhutan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 18, 2002

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National

20% of Foreign Office budget goes to Bhutan

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI DEC. 17. Bhutan may be a tiny nation, but it receives over 20 per cent of the annual budget of the Ministry of External Affairs. According to the 10th report of the Standing Committee of the Ministry of External Affairs, presented to both Houses of Parliament today, a total of Rs. 831.05 crores was allocated for Bhutan in this year's budget.

The Standing Committee report had this to say: "Since a major chunk of the Ministry's budget is devoted to Bhutan every year, the Committee desires that the Ministry establish an effective mechanism to ensure even flow of expenditure, smooth and timely execution of projects and adherence to the schedule of different activities being undertaken with Government of Indian assistance in Bhutan.''

The Government has accepted this recommendation of the panel. Interestingly, the Rs. 831.05 crores allotted for Bhutan (under both Plan and non-Plan heads) is more than the Rs. 787.87 crores it will spend in the current year on all its 157 Embassies and posts abroad. A look at the 2002-03 budget papers revealed that the total budget of the Ministry of External Affairs stands at Rs. 3,238.34 crores and that Bhutan towers above all countries, which receive aid from India.

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