BHUBANESWAR: Implementation of model accounting system using PRIASoft (panchayati raj institutions accounting software) at all levels in the three-tier panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) has been made mandatory.
The State Government has directed all the district collectors to implement the e-governance initiative in the PRIs by doing away with PAMIS (Panchayat Accounting Management Information System).
“The PRIASoft generated cashbook will be treated as an official record and PAMIS will be discontinued henceforth,” said Panchayati Raj Secretary DK Singh in a letter to the district collectors.
With increase in fund flow to the PRIs, it became imperative to put in place a standardised system which will address the challenges of maintaining the daily financial transactions in a transparent manner, sources in the department said.
Since PAMIS, developed by Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB), has its limitations and the application could not be extended to gram panchayat level, PRIASoft was adopted by the Government as the model accounting system.
Meanwhile, all the GPs having electricity have been provided with desktop computers while panchayats without electricity have been given laptops for online financial transactions on a daily basis.
While graduates having degree in Computer Application have been appointed as computer operator in the offices of zilla parishads and panchayat samitis, gram rozgar sevaks working in panchayat offices will function as computer operators.
All the districts have been advised to create a panel of cashiers to be trained in the model accounting system. After training, they will be posted in blocks.
The collectors have also been asked to revive their district resource team for implementation of the e-governance programme. Accounts officers of each block will be the nodal officer for the programme at block and GP level. Meanwhile, the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has specified the accounting standard by reducing the number of formats from 32 to eight.
As per the existing practice, each GP maintains 32 registers and everything is done manually. While most of the panchayats do not maintain records, it is often seen that in most cases, the records are either fudged or manipulated.
The Government has already amended relevant Rules of zilla parishad, panchayat samiti and GP for operationalisation of the new accounting system.