Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 27: In order to maintain transparency, uniformity and complete the task within a prescribed time frame, auditing of gram panchayats will be conducted henceforth by the zilla panchayats concerned online.

This plan is being introduced as per the instructions of the central government to keep an eye on grants, financial resources collection and distribution, in gram panchayats. In the first phase, this programme will be implemented in a few selected panchayats. Based on the experience, Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat will extend the system the gram panchayats.

So far, the procedure followed was to depute a team of auditors to gram panchayats where auditing was conducted. Even though the auditing is to be performed yearly, because of staff shortage and other technical reasons, many a time, auditing happened only once in two or three years. Timely auditing helps in restricting irregularities.

Some doubts are being expressed about the online editing system, but in course of time, the system will stabilize. It will be possible to conduct auditing in time, and the higher authorities would be able to keep tab on the financial aspects.

Chief executive officer of Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat, Dr Selvamani R, says that the new system will be implemented by a few trained staff. He feels that the online auditing helps uniformity and completion of auditing on time. He said that this system will come into force in all the gram panchayats in course of time.