LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3328
TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2022
CLOSED REGIONAL OFFICE OF ICCR
3328. ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the reasons for decision to close down the Regional Office of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in Thiruvananthapuram and to merge it with the Zonal Office, Bengaluru;
(b) whether the Government has noted the opposition against this decision which is detrimental to the aspirations of the State; and
(c) if so, whether the Government will consider the demand to retain the Regional Office in Thiruvananthapuram and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SMT. MEENAKASHI LEKHI]
(a) to (c) In the direction of reorganization of ICCR’s work to ensure efficiency and economy in its operations, and taking all aspects into consideration, the statutory bodies of ICCR had decided to merge seven Regional Offices with the Zonal Offices. Subsequently, the ICCR Regional Office at Thiruvananthapuram has been merged with Zonal Office, Bengaluru. Henceforth, activities carried out by the Regional Office in Thiruvananthapuram will continue to be dealt by the Zonal Office, Bengaluru. Therefore, a separate Regional Office in Thiruvananthapuram will not be retained.