WE THE PEOPLE
Scores of DDOs of Social Welfare Department have deposited money in 56 Banks to escape Surrender of Funds
Hence People urge Finance Department to direct officials to adhere to Financial Rules to avoid Misappropriation of funds
By: MNS/ M. Shirjeel
Srinagar: In our Part 6th, we have stated that Annual Plans at State level are to be prepared by the Social Welfare Department on the basis of the planning exercise conducted by the sub-ordinate offices. With a view to enable the State Government to provide adequate budget grants annually for implementation of various State/Centrally sponsored schemes, identification of eligible beneficiaries at grass root level forms the basis for preparation of action plans and is arguably the most crucial pre-requisite for the successful implementation of the schemes.
Pertinent to state that Financial rules provide that the expenditure figures booked by the controlling officers on the basis of statements furnished by each Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) are to be reconciled periodically with those booked by the Accountant General (A&E) to exercise control over expenditure and to maintain a check against frauds, embezzlements/misappropriations, etc. But it has been observed that such reconciliation had not been conducted for the period from January 2008 to March 2009 by the Director, Social Welfare, Jammu. The delay in conducting reconciliation of first three quarters of 2007-08 ranged between 66 days to 152 days.
Similarly, utilization certificates under post/pre-matric scholarship for Rs. 16.55 crore Baramulla: Rs. 0.1 crore; Doda: Rs 2. crore; Director (SWD) Jammu: Rs. 1.54 crore; Jammu: Rs. 6.62 crore; Kupwara: Rs. 0.44 crore; Poonch: 0.60 crore; Pulwama: Rs. 0.28 crore; Rajouri: Rs. 2.47 crore; Udhampur: Rs. 1.50 crore and Kathua: Rs. 1 crore released (2005-09) to implementing agencies were awaited from nine DSWOs, in the absence of which, the genuineness of expenditure could not be vouch-safed in audit.
Moreover, Financial Rules prohibit opening of bank accounts by the DDOs without approval of the Finance Department except in exceptional cases. But the Scrutiny has shown that six DSWOs of Doda, Jammu, Kathua, Poonch, Rajouri, and Udhampur opened 56 bank accounts without obtaining approval of the Finance Department.
It has also been seen that part amounts, out of the releases made by 12 DSWOs to 44 TSWOs during 2005-09, were not disbursed by the TSWOs in the same financial year and were deposited in banks. As a result, the balances with the banks rose from Rs. 1.91 crore to Rs. 18.94 crore during 2005-09. This practice, besides violating the rules and indicating lack of control over the spending of the subordinate offices, also has resulted in overstatement of the expenditure during these years by these DSWOs.
Similarly, test-check has shown that Rs. 1.10 crore (Jammu: Rs. 0.30 crore; Kashmir: Rs. 0.80 crore) released during 2005-09 under National Old Age Pension Scheme/National Family Benefit Scheme were credited into treasury by 15 TSWOs without referring the same to DSWOs Anantnag, Baramulla, Doda, Jammu, Kathua, Kupwara, Pulwama, Srinagar and Udhampur, resulting in reporting of excess expenditure to that extent by the DSWOs.
The DSWOs stated that instructions of TSWOs to report the matter before taking such action had since been issued. Moreover, detailed accounts for Rs. 121.73 crore advanced by six DSWOs Doda, Jammu, Kathua, Poonch, Rajouri and Udhampur of Jammu Region were not submitted by 31 TSWOs during 2005-09. However, no such case has been seen in respect of Kashmir Division.
Hence People urge Finance Department to direct concerned officials to adhere to Financial Rules to avoid Misappropriation of funds. They should stick to Action Plans to ensure completion of Targeted Schemes. (To be continued)
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