Srinagar: Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta Thursday stressed on accessing more and more funds under centrally-sponsored schemes (CSSs) from the ministries and improving their implementation on the ground to fulfill the objectives of equitable and inclusive development in J&K.
Dr. Mehta also said that CSSs are efficient agents of change and the departments need to re-orient their focus towards perspective planning for improved performance.
He made these observations in a meeting called for reviewing the implementation of CSSs during the year 2021-22 and for laying out a road map for maximising the potential of CSSs in the year 2022-23, an official press release informed.
It said the meeting was attended by various Administrative Secretaries and DDCs.
The Chief Secretary said that there are more than 200 CSSs, and each one of these needs to be mapped department-wise and the concerned department needs to prepare a perspective plan for implementing those schemes for the welfare of the people.
He lauded the performance of the departments in accessing more funds under CSSs in the year 2021-22 as compared to in the year 2020-21.
Earlier, the Finance Secretary made a small presentation on the implementation of CSSs in the UT and informed that there is around 50 percent increase in the BEs of CSSs in the year 2022-23 over those in 2020-21.
While sharing the details of the expenditure performance of different departments, Bhardwaj informed that departments like Law, Social Welfare, Science & Technology, Information Technology, Agriculture Production and Rural Development have incurred expenditure of 80 percent and above of available funds under CSSs during the year 2021-22.
He further informed that 15 districts in the UT have incurred expenditure under CSSs over 90 percent of available funds in the fiscal year 2021-22.
Citing that post-2019, although there have been reduction in audit paras across the departments due to introduction of transformational changes in the financial systems in J&K, the departments must ensure that all audit paras are replied in a timely manner.
The Chief Secretary advised the Finance department to coordinate with AG and the departments for clearing all audit paras in a timely manner.
Dr. Mehta asked the departments to prepare an annual calendar, indicating the list of number of projects that can be completed in the next fiscal year along with the timelines for regular monitoring.
He asked the departments to ensure that monthly progress reports are regularly prepared and reviewed in the monthly meetings by the concerned secretaries for improving the administrative efficiencies.
Dr. Mehta also lauded the performance of the departments in completing more than 54,000 projects during the year 2021-22 and asked the department to ensure that at least 75,000 projects are completed during the current fiscal year, the press release said.
He complimented the DDCs for successfully uploading the e-compendia on their websites and asked the department to complete uploading of e-compendia with search option facility within three days.
Saying that 90 percent district capex comprises CSSs, the Chief Secretary advised the DDCs to ensure that the district officers, who execute the schemes, on the ground are suitably sensitized about these schemes.
Dr. Mehta further advised the DDCs to ensure the preparation of district sports plan, employment plan, agriculture plan etc for effective execution/monitoring of activities under these sectors.
The meeting was attended by all the Administrative Secretaries, Deputy Commissioners, DG Budget and the allied Directors of Finance and Planning in each department.
