Thursday, October 08, 2009

Antony asks defence finance officials to provide innovative solutions to efficiently manage funds

TALK on completion of government projects on time seems to be the flavour of the season after India is being criticized globally for its tardy implementation of key projects related to Commonwealth Games scheduled to be held in October 2010 in New Delhi. No wonder, without naming projects where India’s record has turned miserable, defence minister AK Antony underlined the need to complete projects within the stipulated timeframe when he addressed a gathering in New Delhi on Wednesday after inaugurating a complex of the Defence Accounts Department (DAD). (Picture: During the inauguration of the DAD building) He commended the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which was the construction agency, for not only completing the project on time but also avoiding cost overruns. The minister further gave a very important message to defence finance officials: “Your officers must not only monitor the progress of budget utilization, but also come up with innovative solutions to help the Services manage their funds in an efficient and a transparent manner”. babu blogger’s take: What Mr Antony however did not openly say was how finance and accounts officials tend to pose as roadblocks in timely completion of projects as they create a sense of fear while scrutinize accounts. Remember, E Sreedharan of Delhi Metro is a retired railway official who can afford not to follow rule books, and instead go by his reverse clock alone. Most government officials handling big infrastructure projects in India are scared of being hauled up by vigilance department if not by the CBI, and hence don’t mind missing the target if need be! Top NE cops to meet on Friday Ministry of home affairs (MHA) is organizing a meeting on October 9, 2009 in Guwahati to facilitate interaction between North-Eastern states to coordinate in dealing with the militant groups operating in their states and to formulate effective counter-insurgency operations. The meeting will be attended by the home secretaries and DGPs of the North Eastern States. The meeting would also discuss the issues relating to modernization of state police forces, rehabilitation of surrendered militants, filling up of vacancies and sanction of additional posts in the state police forces, according to a government release. Search Your Own Name If you are a bureaucrat, you can just write your or your colleague’s or senior’s name in our newly installed “Google Custom Search” above, and see for yourself how babu blogger has featured you or your senior. You can also write your batch (for example 1974 batch) or the cadre’s name (say Rajasthan cadre) in the search engine located at the top to check out whether you have missed out any major news that impacts you. Also, try to locate anything and everything related to Indian bureaucracy through this new search engine. Keep reading babu blogger’s take on events that are happening in India’s power corridors.

2 comments:

  1. Yes, batch-wise results through your new search engine is quite helpful. We know the news revolving around our own batchmates, seniors and junior. Also, it gives all coverage by you on various issue. Good going.

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  2. Antony's suggestion holds good for all accounts services, not just defence accounts. otherwise what is the worth of the unending training/executive dev. programmes in top notch institutes with tax payers money??
    rail babu

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