TS Govt 'check'mate powers of Sarpanches
Hyderabad, Dec 6 (INN): The Telangana Government on Saturday ordered that the Sarpanches of Grams Panchayats in the State would not be able to sign cheques severally and they will have to operate the Gram Panchayat Funds with the joint signature of Panchayat Secretary.
"It has been brought to the notice of the government that most of the Gram Panchayats are not properly utilizing the grants received from the State Government and some of the Gram Panchayats are utilizing the funds without following the norms which causes neglect of developmental activities in the Gram Panchayats besides lack of transparency in public spending.
There is need to strengthening the flow of funds, the booking of authorised expenditure, furnishing of utilization certificates and progress reports besides ensuring transparency and accountability in all financial transactions of the Gram Panchayat," Principal Secretary of Panchayat Raj Department J Raymond Peter said in the GO issued on Saturday.
He stated that the government has released various grants to the Gram Panchayats for taking up the developmental activities such as maintenance of CPWS Schemes, Sanitation, Internal roads, Street lighting, Gram Panchayat buildings and other developmental works etc., under 13th Finance Commission, BRGF, RGPSA and other schemes.
"Gram Panchayats at their representatives are public servants as specified under the act, and therefore all activities need to be done only in public interest on behalf of the Panchayat and not in their individual capacities.
The Government of Telangana expects all the Gram Panchayats to collect their taxes for the services being provided by the Gram Panchayat. Hence, the transparency and accountability in financial transactions is of utmost significance," the Principal Secretary said.
Therefore, in view of the scheme guidelines of Government of India and in the larger interest of the Gram Panchayat administration, the State Government has decided to continue the system of joint signature in the interest of transparency and accountability.
News Posted: 6 December, 2014
|
