President Ram Nath Kovind and First Lady Savita Kovind after inaugurating the annual Udyanotsav of Mughal Gardens in Rashtrapati Bhavan on February 5. Photo: Twitter/@rashtrapatibhvn

President Ram Nath Kovind has completed eight months in office. During this period, his focus seems to be on curtailing wasteful expenditure.

Kovind appears to follow the example of 'simple living, high thinking' set by Mahatma Gandhi.

One of the biggest changes which have been brought about by President Ram Nath Kovind is to check wasteful expenditure in the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

It has been brought about by resorting to following measures:

SNACKS

According to sources, soon after becoming the Rashtrapati Bhavan's latest occupant on July 25, 2017, Kovind ordered trimming the number of snacks and dishes cooked inside the majestic monument.

Earlier, at least five types of snacks and several dishes would be cooked in the Rashtrapati Bhavan kitchen every day for the guests and officers. Most of them would get wasted on a daily basis.

Noticing this phenomenon, the president directed doing away this lavish practice. The number of snacks and dishes has been restricted to just two now.

FLOWERS AND BANQUETS

Similarly, the Rashtrapati Bhavan has cut down drastically on flowers for decoration of Rashtrapati Bhavan and placing inside the rooms and halls. This has been cut down to minimum.

Similarly the days of lavish and frequent parties and banquets are over. "Earlier, a number of parties for the same set of people would be thrown. They hardly served any purpose. This has been discouraged now," the sources said.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan has also stopped organising religious festivals ever since President Ram Nath Kovind has come to office. Diwali celebrations did not take place last year though the monument was lit with multi-coloured LED bulbs. Carol singing was discontinued. Iftar will also not be held in most likelihood.

GUEST LIST

In another major development, the guest list of Rashtrapati Bhavan has been drastically pruned. The list has shortened from more than 2000 guests to just over 700. The 'At Home' function on Republic Day this year did not even include the president's immediate family.

The invitees included the mandatory list consisting of personalities such as the MPs, those holding high constitutional posts, defence chiefs, ambassadors and high commissioners and former chief justices.

With these changes, the Rashtrapati Bhavan expects to save a large amount of money of the national exchequer. Saving that money means saving the tax payers' money.