Generally, corporators and politicians lap up foreign junkets on taxpayers’ money; but city mayor G Padmavati has declined invitations from at least four countries – that too in spite of the cost of these tours offered to be borne by the host countries.
Padmavati has cited shortage of time as the main reason for declining the invitations from countries like Mexico, Canada, United Arab Emirates and China.
“I really do not have time. I am mayor hardly for 365 days, and after deducting holidays and non-working days, I am left with about 250 days; and if I have to go abroad for minimum 4-5 days on each tour, I easily lose some 20 days. In those 20 days, I can inspect at least 20 wards and come up with remedies for the taxpayers in these wards,” she said.
“I have already turned down two invites, and the other two are still in the pipeline. But I have decided not to go to any of the countries as I do not have the time,” she told Bangalore Mirror.
The mayor was scheduled to visit Dubai on February 14 to attend city mayors’ closed session after she was invited by Hussain Nasser Lootah, director-general of Dubai Municipality. “Although the Dubai visit was not at all on the taxpayers’ money as they had already offered to bear the cost of the air ticket and hotel accommodation for me and one additional officer from our side, if I do go I would be losing four-five days of my time. Then I cannot concentrate on the city’s revenue-generation related issues. Mexico and Canada had also invited me, but I have already replied to them officially,” she said. Padmavati is also scheduled to visit Chengdu (China) from May 9 to 12 to attend the global innovation and entrepreneurship fair. The Chengdu Corporation is also ready to bear her costs for three nights and four days, inclusive of meals, but she plans to write to them too informing them of her unavailability to attend the event.
Padmavati has cited shortage of time as the main reason for declining the invitations from countries like Mexico, Canada, United Arab Emirates and China.
“I really do not have time. I am mayor hardly for 365 days, and after deducting holidays and non-working days, I am left with about 250 days; and if I have to go abroad for minimum 4-5 days on each tour, I easily lose some 20 days. In those 20 days, I can inspect at least 20 wards and come up with remedies for the taxpayers in these wards,” she said.
“I have already turned down two invites, and the other two are still in the pipeline. But I have decided not to go to any of the countries as I do not have the time,” she told Bangalore Mirror.
The mayor was scheduled to visit Dubai on February 14 to attend city mayors’ closed session after she was invited by Hussain Nasser Lootah, director-general of Dubai Municipality. “Although the Dubai visit was not at all on the taxpayers’ money as they had already offered to bear the cost of the air ticket and hotel accommodation for me and one additional officer from our side, if I do go I would be losing four-five days of my time. Then I cannot concentrate on the city’s revenue-generation related issues. Mexico and Canada had also invited me, but I have already replied to them officially,” she said. Padmavati is also scheduled to visit Chengdu (China) from May 9 to 12 to attend the global innovation and entrepreneurship fair. The Chengdu Corporation is also ready to bear her costs for three nights and four days, inclusive of meals, but she plans to write to them too informing them of her unavailability to attend the event.