January 15, 2002
'33'
CONFERENCE OF PRINCIPAL CONTROLLERS OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS INAUGURATED
The Defence Secretary has underlined the need for international comparison and constant modifications in the systems of keeping accounts. Inaugurating the three-day Conference of the Principal Controllers and Controllers of Defence Accounts here today Shri Yogendra Narain said that keeping in view the enormous size of our Armed Forces and the Defence Budget Allocation the office of the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) has a very important role. He said that CAG should ensure that money allocated is spent in a proper manner. The Defence Secretary said that there should be different systems of Accounting and Auditing in extra-ordinary war-like situations. Complimenting the organisation for the tremendous changes and the rapid development achieved by it, the Defence Secretary said that with the expected increase in the Defence Budget Allocation the CGDA will have to share more responsibility. Referring to the proposal of extending medica! l facilities to the ex-servicemen the Defence Secretary said that it would involve huge accounts keeping and more involvement of CGDA.
Shri Narain said that ongoing reforms in the Defence Organisations as well as in the Ministry of Defence are being carried out in full vigour. Referring to the setting-up of National Defence University the Defence Secretary said that a Committee under K Subramaniam is working on it and its report is expected within three months.
During the Conference the senior officers of the Department will discuss a number of key-issues concerning the Department such as fostering administrative leadership and management skills, reappraising internal audit functions, upgrading the Financial Information System so as to make it on-line providing the real time information, and improving its services to the jawans and Office Automation.
The Defence Accounts Department is a pioneer in many fields. It was the first Department to introduce Hollerith Machine (pre-cursor to computers) in 1932. It set up the first computer (IBM 1401) in the Department in 1969 when computers were a rarity. Today it has 56 large and small Computer Centres all over the country. It also relies on a wide area network established through 22 V-SATs (satellites). A number of its offices have their own Web Sites, which are effectively utilised for providing effective service to the customers.
The Department also pioneered the introduction of Cost Accounting System for the first time in India through Ordnance Factories. It also has the distinction of being the first to introduce Total Quality Management as a conscious policy. Nine offices of the Department have reached the milestone of obtaining ISO Certification. A number of other offices of the Department are also engaged in upgrading their systems and procedures with a view to achieving similar distinction.
Shri P. R. Sivasubramanian, Secretary (Defence Finance) and Shri M Kumaraswami, CGDA also addressed the Conference.