Maha finance dept forms review panel to evaluate govt works

In order to ensure effective implementation of schemes and efficiency of expenditure on them, Maharashtra Finance department has set up a review committee under Principal Secretary (Financial Reforms) to evaluate government works.
A Government Resolution (GR) issued by the Finance department last week states that the aim of the exercise is to get first-hand information on the spending of funds, evaluation of work progress and based on that, planning further government works.
The GR lays down performance indicators for various government departments like Industries and Water Resources.
"The implementation of the government schemes and efficiency of expenditure will henceforth be judged on performance indicators like quality of service, efficiency and benefits the beneficiaries or society at large have received," it stated.

In order to ascertain the efficiency of expenditure, there is a need for regularly collecting data in a structured manner to evaluate the work.
It added that without ascertaining the expenditure and its productivity, it will then be possible to make improvements in the outcome orientation and governments work culture.

The move is in tune with the guidelines laid down by the Centre, which has made it mandatory for laying down performance indicators for each department based on the budgetary allocations made to them.
As per the GR, each department shall constitute an
executive committee, which will be headed by the Principal Secretary of the department concerned. The committee will fix three performance indicators, train the officers and employees, obtain information, check whether the funds are being spent on the basis of indicators.

A high-power committee headed by state Chief Secretary, will take quarterly review of the ongoing government works, issue instructions and its decision on implementation, fixing targets and evaluating the works will be final, the GR states.
The Finance department has earlier issued orders, making it mandatory on the other government departments and officers to ensure time-bound spending of funds allocated to them and dissuade them from spending large amounts of funds at the fag end of the financial year before March every year.
The earlier order provided for holding respective officers accountable for such large scale spending of funds at the fag end of the financial year.