Every rupee from public exchequer must be accounted for and utilised properly LS Speaker

     Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 3 (PTI) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday said every rupee drawn from the public exchequer must be properly accounted for and utilised fully for the purpose for which it was sanctioned.

     Accountability for the utilisation of public money is an essential prerequisite of democracy, he said while addressing a conference of chairpersons of the Public Accounts Committees (PAC) of Parliament and state and Union Territories legislatures.

     The inaugural session of the two-day conference was held at the Keralam Assembly and was attended by Chief Minister VD Satheesan, Parliament's PAC Chairman KC Venugopal, among others.

     "The true utility of the PAC's recommendations emerges when they lead to concrete systemic improvements and ensure that the same shortcomings are not repeated in the future," Birla said.

     He said PACs can make a significant contribution in ensuring that public money is spent on designated objectives, transparency is maintained in schemes and timely corrections are made wherever shortcomings arise.

     "The importance of this role increases manifold as new technologies, large public investments and the participation of multiple institutions continuously grow in government operations," he said.

     Birla said it is essential to ensure that public money is utilised for approved purposes, in accordance with proper procedures and with absolute responsibility.

     The speaker said every rupee of public money represents the aspirations and contribution of the people and must therefore be spent with the highest standards of financial propriety.

     "Every rupee drawn from the public exchequer must be properly accounted for and utilised fully for the purpose for which it was sanctioned," he said.

     The speaker said the responsibility of Parliament and state legislatures is not limited to making laws and discussing government policies.

     He said it is the responsibility of Parliament and state legislatures to ensure that government expenditure aligns with the approved budget and yields the expected public benefits.

     "Public money belongs to the people. Accountability for its utilisation is an essential prerequisite of democracy," he said. Birla, however, said it is necessary to keep in mind that every objection recorded in audit reports is not a case of corruption.

     "Often, these objections are related to procedural lapses, avoidable expenditure, delays in execution, lack of monitoring, or shortcomings in scheme implementation," he said.

     The speaker said identifying the causes of these lapses, helping fix responsibility and suggesting remedial measures form an important aspect of the committee's work.

     The speaker said in a democracy, the government functions with the trust of the people and utilises public resources for the development of the nation.

     He said strengthening of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has played a significant role in it.

     Birla said PACs examine the findings and audit objections recorded in the CAG audit reports at the parliamentary level, and review the responses of the departments concerned along with the actions taken by them.

     "While the CAG audit examines government functioning on the basis of facts and evidence, the PAC connects those findings with parliamentary accountability, reform, and further action," he said.

     The speaker said the functioning of the PAC rises above ordinary political differences and here members from various political parties deliberate together on subjects such as public money and administrative accountability.

     He said that examination of subjects related to government expenditure, public schemes, departmental functioning, and administrative processes has a direct bearing on the facilities and services available to citizens.

     Birla noted that India's economy and governance structure are changing rapidly.

     "Public investment has expanded in infrastructure, health, education, social welfare, and digital services. The scale of government schemes has grown, and the nature of public expenditure has become wider and more complex than before," he said.

     In such a scenario, the speaker said, the responsibility of PACs is not merely to check whether expenditure has been made in accordance with prescribed rules and the approved budget.

     In the PAC's scrutiny, alongside financial compliance, the importance of understanding the performance and outcomes of schemes is continuously increasing.

     "This vision is essential for both accountable governance and the optimal utilisation of public resources," he said.

     Birla said the goal of a developed India will only be meaningful when the resources allocated for development reach every citizen of the country.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)