Treasuries play vital role in enforcing financial discipline: Rather

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 2: Affirming on strict adherence to the treasury code by the officers, the Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather said that treasuries are the financial face of the Government and custodian of the public exchequer.
Speaking at the 10th periodical meeting of the Treasury Officers, representatives of Accountant General (A&E), Stamps and J&K Bank, here today, the Minister asserted that treasuries have a vital role to play in enforcing financial discipline and ensuring transparency in the system.
He exhorted upon the Treasury Officers to strictly maintain Budget Control Registers and in no case allow Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) to exceed the Budget allocations .He said that no irregularity with regard to the payments in excess of the proper allocations will be tolerated, adding that delinquent officers will have to face strict action including removal from service.
He said that efficient functioning of the treasuries determine the image of the Government .He stressed on strict adherence to the norms and guidelines and said the accounting should be accurate as it reflects on the financial face of the State.
The Minister while asking the T.Os to strictly follow the Treasury Code and standing Government rules and regulations called for ensuring proper classification of the vouchers, adding that T.O should not entertain WDC Bills for advance drawals unless copy of the red account is furnished by the DDOs to the office of Accountant General (A&E). The Minister instructed the T.Os not to release any payment unless drawals for the previous month are verified by the concerned DDOs, adding that this was necessary for maintaining strict fiscal management and inducing more accountability.
The Minister also directed the concerned officers of J&k Bank to ensure timely reconciliations to avoid irregularities in the pensioners data .He also stressed on uploading of information with the Central Record Keeping Agency (CRA/NSDL) regularly.
Mr. Rather said that the computerization of treasuries under Mission Mode of National E-governance commonly known as Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) has been approved at a cost of Rs. 34.06 crore which is expected to be completed by March 2013.
To streamline and properly maintain the service record of employees, the Government has launched Centralized Personal Information System (CPIS) for computerization of employees’ date which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
The DG, Accounts and Treasuries, Wali Mohammad Bhat, gave a resume about the performance of the department.
Among others the meeting was attended by the Director Deputy Accounts General A.K. Jain, Director Audit and Inspections Urmil Sharma, Joint Director Accounts and Treasuries M. Aslam Malik, Joint Director Funds Office Jammu Neelam Sharma, Deputy Commissioner stamps Rajesh Sharma, Treasury Officers and other senior officers.