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The Odisha state finance department has flagged instances where funds meant for government schemes were being parked in unauthorised bank accounts.
Instead of parking the scheme funds in a public account, field level functionaries have been found to deposit the same in savings and current accounts of banks not authorised to handle government transactions.
“The heads of departments and collectors are requested to enquire into the matter of unauthorised parking of government money in bank accounts after obtaining information from the treasury officers/drawing and disbursing officers (DDOs). If instances of irregularities are found, disciplinary action should be taken against the concerned officer under intimation to the finance department,” U N Behera, additional chief secretary (finance), said in a letter to secretaries of all departments and district collectors.
Behera has also asked the authorities to ensure that funds are drawn and transferred to implementing agencies only for actual expenditure and not for parking in bank account.
As per the guidelines prepared for centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) implemented on state level, district level and sub-district level, implementing agencies are required to set aside scheme funds in a dedicated bank account.
As per the guidelines prepared for CSS implemented on state level, district level and sub-district level, implementing agencies are required to set aside scheme funds in a dedicated bank account.
Such funds are to be parked in flexi accounts instead of savings bank accounts so that higher interest accruals from the scheme funds can be ploughed back to expand coverage of the scheme without affecting the fund flow.
As many as 17 public sector banks, four private banks, two regional rural banks (RRBs) and one cooperative bank figure in the empanelled list of banks where the state PSUs and autonomous agencies can park their deposits.
In the letter, Behera pointed out that there is risk of misappropriation and fraud if money is kept outside public account. It has also a cost implication for the state government, he said.
Instead of parking the scheme funds in a public account, field level functionaries have been found to deposit the same in savings and current accounts of banks not authorised to handle government transactions.
“The heads of departments and collectors are requested to enquire into the matter of unauthorised parking of government money in bank accounts after obtaining information from the treasury officers/drawing and disbursing officers (DDOs). If instances of irregularities are found, disciplinary action should be taken against the concerned officer under intimation to the finance department,” U N Behera, additional chief secretary (finance), said in a letter to secretaries of all departments and district collectors.
Behera has also asked the authorities to ensure that funds are drawn and transferred to implementing agencies only for actual expenditure and not for parking in bank account.
As per the guidelines prepared for centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) implemented on state level, district level and sub-district level, implementing agencies are required to set aside scheme funds in a dedicated bank account.
As per the guidelines prepared for CSS implemented on state level, district level and sub-district level, implementing agencies are required to set aside scheme funds in a dedicated bank account.
Such funds are to be parked in flexi accounts instead of savings bank accounts so that higher interest accruals from the scheme funds can be ploughed back to expand coverage of the scheme without affecting the fund flow.
As many as 17 public sector banks, four private banks, two regional rural banks (RRBs) and one cooperative bank figure in the empanelled list of banks where the state PSUs and autonomous agencies can park their deposits.
In the letter, Behera pointed out that there is risk of misappropriation and fraud if money is kept outside public account. It has also a cost implication for the state government, he said.
