Port Blair, Dec. 10: The Organised Accounts Cadre Service of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration celebrated the Second A&N Civil Accounts Day on 7th December, 2019 at a simple function held at the Chief Pay and Accounts Office, Port Blair.

The Andaman and Nicobar Accounts cadre was born in the backdrop and premise of separation of Audit from Accounts in 1980.After its creation, the Accounts cadre has taken the mantle of management of financial resources entirely upon its shoulders. Infact the entire budget of Andaman & Nicobar is projected, formulated and released apart from imposing the cardinal rules derived from the General Financial Rules by the Accounts cadre.

The service also provides internal finance mechanism and manpower to all departments within the A&N Administration apart from the PRI’s and autonomous bodies such as the PBMC. Some of the major departments include APWD, Electricity, Health, Education, Shipping, PRI’s, Transport and Forest where the internal finance is manned by the Accounts cadre.

They provide their function in the form of advisory, accounting, auditing, budgeting, payments and concurrence of all proposals with financial implications.

The Accounts cadre also has a Local Fund Audit team which focuses on auditing of local funds at the disposal of the PRI’s. This ensures robust implementation of various grants and schemes for the welfare of the rural populace.

The cadre also has a strong presence in the PBMC which has transitioned itself in the light of Digital India initiatives and has showcased PBMC in a new light.

The Accounts cadre is also a vital arm of divisions of PWD and Forest department which is spread across the Islands from the North to South even catering to tribal landscape.

The entire budgeting of the Islands is shouldered by the Accounts cadre which is handling a budget of more than Rs.4500 crores and is also responsible for expenditure in tandem with a plethora of cardinal rules designed for financial prudence and propriety.

The Pay & Accounts Offices and the Sub-PAO’s cater to the payment and accounting functions and are spread across the Islands from Port Blair, Rangat, Mayabunder  to Diglipur and Car Nicobar, Nancowry and Campbell Bay. All the salaries,wages, personal claims, GPF and pension is handled though these Offices.

The pension wing handles all the pension related cases and is providing a commendable service in ensuring timely finalisation of pension of the Govt servants retiring from the A&N Administration.

The cadre is currently facing certain major challenges before it, these are –

             Interpretation and implementation of rules.

             Freedom to dissent and objective implementation of cardinal rules in impartial and uniform way.

             Huge responsibility and coordination issue with peers in other departments in respect of implementation of financial rules in it's true essence.

             Implementation of new technology for faceless interface and to minimize human error and discretion.

             Uniformity in interpretation of rules.

             Strengthening and expansion of posts.

             Implementation of recommendation of 7th CPC in some cases which is still elusive.

             Maintaining dignity and pride of institution while posted in other departments.

On this occasion, the President Staff Council, Shri. M Mohammed Ashraf, Sr. AO addressing the members of the cadre stressed on the need to strictly adhere to the instructions provided in the Civil Accounts Manual, Receipt and Payment Rules and Other Govt. manuals so that none of them are held accountable for any procedural lapses. He urged everyone to work dedicatedly with utmost sincerity and honesty as the cadre has been known for. He also requested the Administration to organise regular workshops and training sessions so that the staff can learn from the experience of each other and also keep them updated with the new advents in the civil accounting sphere such as Direct Benefits Transfers DBT and new IT platforms in the form of PFMS.

The event was graced with the presence of retired veterans Shri Keshava Murthy, Sr.AO (Rtd) and Shri. S.K. Roy, AAO (Rtd). Shri. Keshav Murthy took the gathering to the by lanes of memory and recounted the transition of the organization from a motley group to a full-fledged organized cadre. He reminisced the sacrifices made by the veterans and seniors in securing the posts which were on the verge of slipping off from the coffers of the cadre and how the erstwhile staff council took the bull by its horn in a most fearless manner and secured the dignity of parity and designation of an organised cadre. Further he stressed on the unity of cadre to tide through the difficult times faced by the cadre and to stick to the rules come what may in the most fearless manner.

Shri. S.K. Roy, in his inimitable style exhorted for unity and taking firm position in the line of implementation of rules fearlessly. He stressed that it was with mere guts that he propelled the Staff Council against many injustices and finally marked the victory with parity of pay and recognition as an organised cadre. He assured of all help whenever required for the upliftment of the cadre. His parting advise was- ‘Take it on fearlessly’. The DAB in charge Shri PA. Vadivelu also extended his warm wishes to the Staffs on the occasion of the 2nd A&N Civil Accounts Day. 

Earlier, Smti.K.Chintamani, AO, Gen.Secretary, Staff Council, welcomed the special guests, DAB incharge and all the members of the cadre present for the function.  The vote of thanks was presented by Shri Anil Koshy, Sr. AO Vice President of the Council. He conveyed his gratitude for the golden advice given by the veterans and ensured that their advice will be heeded to in true spirit. A large gathering of accounts fraternity attended the function and some of them also placed their views and suggestions for the welfare of the cadre.