KL Report
Srinagar
Asserting that treasuries are the custodian of state exchequer, the Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Ab. Rahim Rather Saturday called for maintaining the Budget Control religiously adding that treasury officers should in no case exceed budgetary allocations.
“Budget formation is exclusively the prerogative of the state legislature and if any treasury officer (T.O) is found indulging in excess payments, he shall have to face stringent action, even termination of his job,” Rather said while speaking at the 11th Review Meeting of the Accounts and Treasuries Organization, Jammu Division in the Excise and Taxation Complex, Jammu.
Rather further directed the T.Os to conduct drawl verifications and reconciliation of accounts on regular basis besides refraining from incompletion in classification of accounts, which was imperative from obtaining accurate picture of state accounts. While asking the functionaries to follow the Treasury code strictly, for their guidance in financial matters, Rather urged for rendition of plus-minus statements on 10th day of every month adding that T.Os should not allow arrears on account of Red Accounts to accumulate.
Rather asked the T.Os to strictly adhere to the prescribed performance indicators, taking recourse to good behavior, politeness and honesty during their interaction with the public, adding that good work done always invites due appreciation and recognition from the higher monitoring bodies.
Rather directed the National Informatic Centre (NIC) J&K Unit to complete Rs.34 Crore computerization project for Treasuries in the state by the end of March this fiscal positively as it was necessary to bring both qualitative as well as quantitative improvement in the service delivery system at the treasuries besides bringing accuracy in the states’ accounting system. He asked the T.Os to be ready to switch over to Civil Accounting System from April 2013 as the state Cabinet has recently given its nod to abolish the cheque system. This will be a major reform in the working of Works Division in the state, he added. He also asked the officers of the NIC to expeditiously complete the Rs.2.5 Crore Centralized Personal Information System (CPIS) for capturing of duly authentic data base of state Government employees and the pensioners. The data in respect of the offices falling under the administrative control of finance department and the employees of various administrative departments in the Civil Secretariat has already been captured and is available on the website of the NIC. The access has been provided to the concerned drawing and disbursing officers (DDOs) by providing them the user ID and password for making necessary entries/corrections in the data in respect of their officers and officials.
Rather assured the officers of Accounts and Treasuries department that all possible measures are being taken to improve their working conditions adding that construction of new treasury buildings in different areas of the state has been taken up on war footing. He said that treasury buildings at Nowshehra, Vijaypur, Bhaderwah and Paddar in Jammu division and Shopian, Devsar, Sogam and Bandipora in Kashmir division will be ready by the end of current fiscal.
Rather appreciated the suggestions of Accountant General, J&K, D.K. Bakhshi regarding formulation of a Coordination Committee of the officers of A.G’s office and J&K Accounts and Treasuries department for joint efforts to ensure better and fool proof cash management and accounting system in the state treasuries.
The Financial Commissioner, Finance, Iqbal Khandey, Accountant General (A&E) D.K. Bakshi, Director General Accounts and Treasuries, Ravi Magotra, Director Funds Organization Ms Pushpa Sumbli, Director Audit and Inspections, M.A. Geelani, Jt. Director Accounts & Treasuries, Mohd Aslam, President J&K Bank, (Finance & Govt. Business), S.L. Bhat, Senior Accounts Officer, Principal Accountant General’s Office (A.G’s Office) N.M. Koul, and Treasury Officers of Jammu Division were present in the meeting.
