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| Suspension of KAS officers sparks debate over authority! | | Sarpanch final authority to release payments, say RDD officials | | Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Anantnag, June 12: The suspension of 14 KAS officers allegedly for withdrawing excess funds from e-FMS account has sparked a debate as the officers in Rural Development Department claim that ‘final authority’ for releasing funds lies with elected Sarpanchs. The officers, who wished anonymity, told Early Times that the Jammu and Kashmir Government notified new rules related to preparations of plans, budgets and release funds to empower the elected PRI members.
In 2019, the Administrative Secretary to Rural Development Department (RDD) Sheetal Nanda (IAS) issued a notification [Government Order No. 207-RD&PR of 2019 dated 04-07-2019].
The Government details how to release funds of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA funds by Halqa Panchayat as mandated in schedule 1-A of Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act 1989. The guidelines, according to this government order, were approved by the State Administrative Council (SAC) [Decision No.152/17/2019 dated 03-07-2019].
According to this notification, the Panchayat Secretary has been designated as Signatory 1 and Sarpanch has been designated as Signatory 2. In absence of an elected Sarpanch, Block Development Officer (BDO) will act as Signatory 2, reads the notification.
The notification says that Signatory 1 (Panchayat Secretary) shall check the attendance of the wage list generated and after due verification send it to signatory 2 (Sarpanch) on the same day without any fail for payments.
The Signatory 2 (Sarpanch), notification says, shall after due verification push the FTO to the bank for disbarment of wages to wage seekers if the funds are available.
The RDD officials said that under Electronic Fund Management System (e-FMS), the Sarpanchs have been provided digital signature (DSC’s) for drawing funds for disbursement directly from e-FMS account being maintained at Secretariat Level.
“Under e-FMS, the funds are directly transferred from the state e-FMS account maintained at Secretariat level to the individual beneficiary account electronically and no intermediate account below state e-FMS account is required. The signatory 1 and 2 at Panchayat level directly draw funds through digital signature (DSC) from state e-FMS account and transfer to the individual beneficiary account as maintained in the Act.,” reads notification, a copy of which lies with Early times.
One of the Block Development Officers, who was placed under suspension, told Early Times that they don’t have power to stop Sarpanchs from making payments.
“We don’t have power to stop Sarpanchs from making payments. Only we were supposed to monitor what we did and serve explanation notices to Panchayat Secretaries,” he said.
A senior RDD officer defended BDOs and said that they weren’t at fault. “The power to release payments lies with Sarpanch. How can BDO stop an elected member but yes he is supposed to monitor and inform the government timely,” he said. |
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