The Hindu : Front Page : Treasury modernisation moves into top gear

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Sunday, Jun 07, 2009
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Treasury modernisation moves into top gear

N.J. Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Finance Department is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the treasury modernisation drive is completed ahead of the April 2010 deadline. When complete, this will introduce a zero-balance credit card system for welfare pensioners and spread the fruits of core banking facilities to all sections of society, including government employees and service pensioners.

The Finance Department swung into action mode for an overhaul of 23 district treasuries, 180 sub-treasuries, six pension payment sub-treasuries and four check-post treasuries acting on recommendations evolving from a social audit conducted by the Treasury Department.

The main advantage of the modernisation drive would be that people ranging from the aged, widows, farm labourers and coir workers, who avail themselves of welfare pensions, would be enabled to access automatic teller machines for their monthly pensions and the government would be committed to disbursing the pensions without any break.

It would put an end to delays in paying off the pensions. The 3 lakh service pensioners and 5 lakh savings bank account holders will also stand to gain from the drive.

The social audit spanning between August 27, 2008 and January 5, 2009 was a path-breaking initiative. After the conclusion of the auditing process, 98 recommendations submitted by the jury were picked up by the government and steps were taken in right earnest for the overhaul process.

Development of infrastructure; updating of computer facilities; simplification of procedures; imparting training to 3,430 employees; improving the functioning of the pension and savings bank; and enhancing the quality of service to the public have been identified as the key areas.

Department sources told The Hindu that even part-time sweepers would be involved in the training programme, the focus of which would be on bringing about an attitudinal change among employees. Infrastructure Kerala Limited (INKEL) has been entrusted with the task of conducting a technical study on improving infrastructure. It has been proposed to construct 36 buildings this year.

A technical committee would be constituted for upgrading the software being used in treasuries.

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