Jhalawar (Rajasthan) :  In a bid to curb unnecessary expenses, the Education Department has decided to put an end to lavish welcomes for its officials. From now on, officials will no longer be greeted with traditional turbans, garlands, and souvenirs during their official visits and meetings.

According to Senior Lecturer Diet Surenndra Kumar Jain, the Director of Education, Ashish Modi, has issued an order to this effect. This decision is seen as a major relief for principals and headmasters of schools, who were previously burdened with the responsibility of arranging for these welcomes.

The practice of gifting bouquets and mementos has also been discontinued. The department has argued that this new rule will promote environmental conservation, as it will reduce the use of plastics and other non-biodegradable materials.

In addition, the department has also put a stop to the practice of serving bottled water during meetings. Instead, officials will now have to make do with ordinary water served in reusable glasses. The budget for tea and snacks has also been slashed, and officials will have to make do with simpler arrangements.

A principal, who wished to remain anonymous, praised the department's initiative, saying that it was a step in the right direction. However, he cautioned that the success of this initiative would depend on the willingness of officials to implement it sincerely. "If officials do not take this order seriously, it will be business as usual," he warned.