Thiruvananthapuram | As part of administrative reforms to make file movement 'smoother', the State government is initiating moves to strip the finance department of its powers to examine in detail all files on projects having serious financial implications. The move comes in the wake of recommendations of the V Senthil Kumar Committee appointed by the Government to avoid red tapism.
It is argued that the already poor financial crisis in the State would get worsened if departments are allowed to go ahead with project implementation without the finance department's clearance. The present move is in the backdrop of the controversy of the Save Kerala project where finance department objections were bypassed by Keltron as part of setting up AI cameras on major roads. In this particular case, the finance department had made it clear that Keltron could not play the dual role of project management consultant and contractor simultaneously. But this was simply ignored and the project got Cabinet sanction. The new move will make the role of the finance department insignificant and take away its independent nature. Instead, finance officers in each department will be entrusted with vetting projects concerning their departments.
It is pointed out that the finance department will have no say with respect to salary and working conditions of government servants. Under the proposed dispensation, the software Spark for salary disbursal will now be under the public administration department. The controversial file to usurp the powers of the finance department is now on the Chief Minister's table. It is alleged that a section in the public administration department is keen to get the Senthil Committee recommendations cleared even when a large section of officials see the danger lurking as it could worsen the deep financial crisis that the State has already landed in.
