Some of those who voted YES had this to say:
• Yes, they are serious about austerity measures. The poor financial position of the state government must have prompted them to take such a decision, because their allowance for refreshments (read drinks included) I assure you come to an astronomical amount. So our dear legislators willing to forgo their refreshment is a big sacrifice.
• If they r serious enough then its Yes
• I know for a fact that our politicians spent quite a large sum of money in refreshments in the form of imported scotch, wine, chocolates, and can you believe it, designer assorted refreshments. I am quite sure this indulgence must be making quite a dent in the exchequer. So, if our honorable legislators are meaning that they will stop using the state exchequer’s pocket to finance their indulging imported refreshments, than I support their move. I will say Yes, if this is the case.
• A small beginning towards the right steps for the generations to come. At present, they are full. No opposition too. All their pockets are full of public money. So, they can forgo the small changes, the crumps that fall off the table.
• Yes, A manifestation of public outcry. still there are many more steps to taken up by ministers, legislators and senior officers if they are really serious about this austerity measures means.
• Yes, if by refreshments they mean all the Gold Label, Blue Label and the fancy wine they drink. I am sure they cost a lot more.
Some of those who voted NO had this to say:
• No. This decision to forego refreshments and reading materials shows how our leaders think about us. No, They are not serious about austerity measures at all. Just look at the cost of the CM residential place which is crossing more than 400 crores. In a state like Nagaland that lives on a begging bowl from Delhi it is completely absurd and is a crime. Our leaders are overindulging while the majority of the people are languishing in misery.
• No. Giving up on multi luxury SUV's and opting for Pool car would have been more convincing.
• No way. They are taking the people for a ride. They can fool the people sometime but they cant fool the people every time.
• No. These are peanuts. If they are serious about austerity measure they should tone down the Numbers of vehicles, the servant they employ, the number of bodyguards etc. for these cost a huge sum to the state exchequer.
• No. CAG 2014-15 report explains it all.
• No, the government has no respect for the public at all. This is a mockery. They are insulting the intellect of the public. How long will these kind of people take the public for a ride. Enough is enough.
• No. Wow!!! Leaving their free comfort zone? Opps…I mean, their pocket money. Come on, that’s for their, being the peoples representatives and they are entitled to it. They should accept that along with their meager salaries as “the one” with the responsibilities they carry. But that they should not pocket the funds meant for the people and put up a freak show with those gibberish… just a laugh off.. What about all the so many funds they divert to their accounts? Can they forego those? Don’t think so. It would be like taking their life away.
• No, Refreshment and magazine money is peanuts for them. Not a big deal.
• No. its just a mockery of what austerity means. btw do they say that the bill for the aforesaid forgo runs into millions?
• No. Forego all their assets which they acquired through embezzling funds the GOI had given for running offices and public funds. Then we will talk about whether they are serious about austerity measures or not.
• NO. How much is their refreshments paper /magazine allowances ????? Is the bills in terms of lakhs /crores per month ????? If yes than Vigilance should initiate an enquiry . If No than what are they trying to prove by giving up 1000-5000/- bills ????? If they really wants to give up than STOP siphoning off public funds to their pvt accounts. STOP buying/developing/increasing their pvt assets instead develop Nagaland. Provide students their due share of education it's March end but till now Govt schools students are without books !!!!! Pay salaries to the GON/CSS employees. STOP backdoor/political appointments when they know the fact that GON has excess employees !!!! Travel to remote villages which is not motorable and see how your voters /people are living without even basic needs also !!!!! Giving up their paper /magazines/refreshment allowances is just another INSULT to the nagas !!!!!!
• If they expect appreciation by giving up the above frivolous benefits. It is a no no! If public had a sense of humour despite all the rotteness we are going through.. It can be nominated for the 'joke of the year'.
• No. Tell them to open their Facebook account or page instead of the above unnecessary miscellaneous needs.
• Penny wise and pound foolish. No buyers for this. Forgo newspapers?? Perhaps they don't want to read about their incompetencies every morning.
• No. That’s nothing to them… Not diverting funds to their accounts is … that is, they are taking “Austerity Measures” Something is very wrong with the hotshot here in Nagaland? Why don’t they stop Liquidating the development fund meant for development to their wealth rather than say something stupid and make a laughing stock of themselves …. The Masses know very well their trade …
Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say:
• I say, if not Magazines & Newspapers, who on earth is gonna inform them about- daily happenings or mishappenings, public grievances, editorials, sports, classifieds, about huge fund release by Delhi, about press release & felicitations, about.... etc, etc? Anyway, Ministers & Officers dont need to read or subscribe newspapers for they've got 4G multi network internet installed in their luxury and expensive handsets, laptops, tablets, etc. I say, I'm glad they're not losing their minds but becoming very "penny foolish pound wise," by jolly good golly!
• Ayaya...what a sacrifice lol So far the best hand wash they've used
• Obviously very serious! after all they can go immediately to their luxury home on their luxury SUV's and have chilled glass of Jack Daniels and on the same day take a premium business class flight to Delhi to have some fun! All at exchequer expense(read as corruption money) and now as if our sarcasm hasn't swooped down too low, announcing they would forgo 'magazine, newspaper and refreshments ' which basically are the only corners they can cut to curb millions of state deficit. I would have to say hooligans in Somalia and Mogadishu runs better government than our idiot and obnoxious govt of Nagaland.
• It is like rubbing salts at someone's wounds... they'd forego their "magazines, newspapers and refreshment" money. Hey i will go generate money by doing labour work for ur refreshments please just stop stealing money meant for development that is all we'd ask..
• We will appreciate their effort if they promise to stop stealing public money along with this austerity measure. Otherwise this is the biggest joke of the year.
