PANAJI
Even as the first job advertisement through the Goa Staff Selection Commission (GSSC) -- dealing with group C posts across 23 departments -- is yet to be released, the State government has imposed a ban on creation of new posts across all its departments, autonomous bodies and Corporations until further orders.
Under Secretary Finance Pranab Bhat in an Office Memorandum issued on December 21, has issued a series of directions for rationalisation of expenditure in a bid to curb unwanted revenue spending by the departments. The government has directed its departments not to spend more than 20 per cent of their budgetary estimates in the last quarter of the fiscal that is between January and March, 2024.
The Secretary has asked all the departments to ensure rationalisation of expenditure in order to achieve the targets and standards set out in the Goa Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2006, as also to provide adequate funds for development activities under Capital Account and to restrict or manage expenditure on Revenue Account.
“There shall be a ban on creation of new posts in all departments, autonomous bodies and corporations of the government until further orders,” the OM stated. The government had last month directed GSSC to complete the recruitment process by January 31, 2024.
“Not more than 20 per cent of the Budgetary estimates shall be spent in the remaining quarters of this financial year, except under flagship schemes of the government and wherever possible, may be reduced by 40 per cent till the financial year end,” the OM stated
Further, every department has been directed to bring into effect a 25 per cent cut in budgetary revenue expenditure excluding interest payment, repayment of debt, payment of salaries and pension.
Also, in order to curb unnecessary expenditure, the Finance Department has imposed a ban on purchase of items like furniture, electrical appliances, telephone instruments, office vehicles, etc. The Accounts Department is directed not to clear any bills for purchase of such items. “Finance department encourages the departments to surrender savings under the Revenue Account by making a judicious assessment of their requirement,” the OM stated.
