MUMBAI, May 12 -- The state social justice department is facing flak for checking more than 50 of its officials into a private resort and spa in Lonavala for a brainstorming session on government welfare schemes - even as state guidelines say such training programmes should be conducted at government-run training centres, not luxury getaways. The estimated price tag of this summer interlude: Rs.20 lakh. Given the alleged breach of protocol - not to mention the glaring irony - social activists are demanding an administrative-financial audit of the government institution that organised the programme. They also want action to be taken against the officials for flouting government norms. However, social justice minister Sanjay Shirsat has an interesting take on 'social justice'. "If MLAs go to foreign countries on study tours, and private firms organise training programmes in hotels, why can't we have a training workshop at a resort?" he says. The two-day, state-level workshop was organised by the Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute, or BARTI, at the Ikshana Resort and Spa on May 8 and 9. With the resort boasting a spa, a bar, a game zone and a jacuzzi, among other amenities, each room comes at a cost of Rs.9,600, according to booking websites. BARTI is an autonomous government institute and primarily works for the educational, social and economic empowerment of Scheduled Caste (SC) communities in Maharashtra. Its key activities include competitive exam coaching for UPSC, MPSC, skill development and vocational training, entrepreneurship development, research on social justice, and promoting the ideas and philosophy of Dalit leader Dr B R Ambedkar. "The training policy drawn up by the state government in 2011 prescribes the norms for such training, budgets and venues. It mandates that the training be held at government institutions at the state, district and tehsil levels," said an official with the general administration department. He said the government has its own state-of-the-art training institute, Yashada in Pune, boasting a hostel and dining facility. It receives generous funding every year. "Although there is no proof available as yet, the officers spent over Rs.20 lakh at Lonavala," he said. Social justice minister Sanjay Shirsat denied allegations that his department violated rules during a training retreat for officers from across Maharashtra, saying all precautions were taken and no norms were breached. "The programme was organised to ensure efficient public services. Everything was conducted as per rules and nobody misbehaved," he said. Social activist Vijay Kumbhar demanded action against officials responsible for violations, alleging that autonomous bodies like BARTI, SARTHI and YASHADA often spend generous government funding on unnecessary activities. He said stringent financial audits were needed. The two-day retreat also drew opposition criticism Maharashtra Congress general secretary Sachin Sawant questioned why expensive sessions were being held at private resorts during an economic crisis and demanded an inquiry, accusing the government of flouting its own rules despite financial constraints nationwide....