KL Report
SRINAGAR
After assuming charge of office at Civil Secretariat Jammu Wednesday, Finance Minister, Dr. Haseeb Drabu, chaired a meeting with top officials of the Department of Finance including its Field departments and Directorates.
Drabu had extensive discussions with Principal Secretary Finance B. B. Vyas and other officers on the financial situation of the State and reviewed the status of preparation of the Budget and Plan for the next financial year.
The Finance Minister said that he would like the Budget to have a ‘human approach’ so that it is understood and appreciated by common man. He urged officers to look beyond figures while preparing the budget and to focus on substance, touching lives of the people. “I want to capture wisdom of the common people” he said and added that it should be looked into more innovatively and sensitively.
While receiving brief on the functioning of Accounts and Treasuries Department and status of liabilities, Drabu said that a system should be evolved for the treasuries to be able to make disbursements quickly. He further said that all pensioners should receive their pension by 30th of each month and immediate steps should be taken to ensure that all pensioners receive their pension through bank.
Drabu also received brief from Principal Secretary Finance on the “Joint Damage and Need Assessment Report” on floods prepared by World Bank and the State Government.
