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Advisor, Treasuries & Accounts, NH, Dr Longrineken addressing the 15th general conference of Nagaland Finance & Accounts Service Association held on November 6. (DIPR Photo)
Kohima, November 6 (MExN): Under the motto ‘Upholding Fiscal Discipline’, the 15th general conference of Nagaland Finance & Accounts Service Association (NF&ASA) was held at the conference hall of Directorate of Treasuries & Accounts on November 6.
Dept of Treasuries & Accounts is the backbone of Government
A DIPR report stated that Advisor, Treasuries & Accounts, NH, Dr Longrineken, speaking at the function, stated that the Department of Treasuries & Accounts is an important department and the backbone of the Government. He appealed to the officers and staff to be sincere, dedicated in their service and not to refuse posting in far flung areas.
Mentioning the issue of shortage of officers in various departments, he said it will soon be looked into and, therefore, encouraged the officers to do justice to their service by giving support and guidance to improve the working structure.
Officers urged to keep up with changing times
While regretting his absence, Chief Secretary, Temjen Toy, IAS, through a letter, stated that in the sphere of government functioning, finance is the key component that determines the success of most of the other key factors. Toy also said that Nagaland Finance & Accounts Service have a key role to play in the functioning of all the departments of the State Government.
As Financial Advisers to the departments, and as the custodian of the Suite's finances, the officers of the service are the right hand men of the State Ex-Chequer which he said requires quality and high standards from all members otherwise will have an adverse financial impact on the Government.
With the inevitable impact of technology in all spheres of our functioning in areas such as the National Pension Scheme, P1MS, computerization of Treasuries, Direct Benefits Transfer etc he encouraged the officers to keep up with the changing times.
Toy also said that the officers will all need to keep themselves up to date and well acquainted with the rules and procedures, and render the right advice and guidance and to understand the responsibilities placed on them and be a driving forces of change and progress.
‘NF&ASA responsible for maintaining financial and fiscal discipline’
Secretary Finance Department, Kesonyu, IAS said that looking at nature and the job profile of the association, there is no other association which has been given a greater responsibility, authority and duty to ensure that the state remains within the framework of maintaining the financial and fiscal discipline. He added that role of the association is not only to administer but also to enforce the financial rules and regulations of the state government and maintaining the accounting system and to ensure that all the accounting system laid down and prescribed are followed and executed effectively.
He prompted the association members that any sort of fiscal disciplines and maintaining the standards of fiscal discipline has to be routed through the members of the association. He also said that the state government needs to assess between revenue expenditure and capital expenditure because expenditure itself is not bad but it is the wrong investment and wrong expenditure that is costing the state government. He further hoped that the one-day conference will revive the resolution in maintaining professionalism and upholding the highest standard of fiscal discipline.
‘NF&ASA short of 75 officers’
RN Yanthan, President NF&ASA, in his presidential address stated that NF&ASA was established in 1980, with an objective to promote cordial relationship with the Government Administration. He highlighted the strength of NF&AS Officers which has been reduced and has a shortage of 75 officers and the resulting effect is even the Directorate Administration is running in short of officers owing to continuous retirement but no promotion.
Yanthan, also highlighted that the Department of Treasuries & Accounts is the main functionary organ of the State Government to administer and enforce the Financial and Regulation by posting of the Account officers to as many as 82 major Departments including the flagship projects beside Divisional Accounts Officers are posted to 104 working Division under Cheque Drawing Department. He further, urged all the Association Authority to support by way of providing the required facilities like proper infrastructure, convenience also imparting Financial Management Training within and outside the country.
Other highlights of the programme included words of acknowledgement delivered by Finance Secretary, Adi Naleo and followed by distribution of certificate to the retired members and Business Session.
