Indian missions abroad shying away from revealing budgetary allocations: Study

NEW DELHI: Even though the government has tightened its reins on foreign-funded NGOs, it has not been able to set its own house in order. An independent study has revealed that Indian missions abroad have been shying away from revealing budgetary allocations and expenditure over the years.

The study conducted by Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) of Indian missions in 122 countries has revealed that only missions in Austria, Madagascar and Uzbekistan have voluntarily revealed budgetary information for 2015-16.
High commissions and embassies are also covered by the Right to Information Act. Under Section 4 (1) (b) of the RTI Act, Indian missions abroad are required to reveal information proactively and update it regularly on their official websites. However, the study has shown that almost 50% of the 122 missions have either never divulged their budgetary figures for any year or have relevant websites. The records of previous fiscals are no better. Only 13 missions divulged budgetary statistics for 2014-15. The highest disclosure was in 2013-14, when 17% (21 missions) divulged budgetary figures. India’s missions in the neighbouring countries have a very poor record. Missions in China, Nepal, Pakistan and Myanmar have not revealed budgetary figures for any years, as per CHRI study. Missions in Afghanistan, Bhutan and Sri Lanka have displayed their budgets till 2013-14.

The most up-to-date records in the neighbourhood is the one in Bangladesh, which has revealed the relevant information till 2014-15 fiscal. CHRI’s three-member research team, comprising Venkatesh Nayak, Varun Chopra and Rupa Bhattacharya, said India’s missions in Kazakhstan, the Maldives and North Korea do not have dedicated websites. “It is not as if this information is not readily available. In response to an RTI application filed by us, the Ministry of External Affairs sent detailed budget for the years 2013-14 and 2014-15 and the budget estimate for the current financialyear,” Nayak said.