Kohima, April 30 (MExN): The Finance Department today bade farewell to Y. Kikheto Sema, Secretary, Finance & Budget at the department’s conference hall.
RC Acharjee, Financial Adviser, stated that the dream to train young local people to take up the responsibility of the preparation of State budget was realised through Kikheto, who was not only efficient in the management and monitoring of the State’s finances but was also instrumental in motivating and building up young local officers to take up the responsibilities of preparing the budget. Acharjee further stated that there are only few people who will be able to work in the capacity that Kikheto worked, a press release informed.
V Kezo, OSD (General & Budget) recognised Kikheto as a performer who has left a big footprint that nobody will be really stepping into. However, he said, officers and staff of the Finance Department will try to fill into the steps with a concerted and collective effort. Senior Research Officer, K Kepfo acknowledged that in his 27 years of service in the Finance Department, Kikheto was the best Team Leader and Captain, who led by example and work ethics, and trained everyone so they will be able to become efficient officers and staffs to carry the burden of the State’s finances, the release said.
Temjen Toy, Principal Secretary & Finance Commissioner, recollected the efficiency of Kikheto in planning, organizing and execution of programs and his ability to control and monitor the events and any undertaking that he initiated. He stated that the favourable award of the Fourteenth Finance Commission was due to the tireless efforts of Kikheto. He also expressed confidence that Kikheto will be able to handle any other department in the state well since he could handle finance department during difficult times.
Meanwhile, Kikheto Sema recounted that he was initially proposed to work in the Finance Department in 1993; however, he joined only in September 2005 as OSD (Budget) - the first local officer after 42 years of statehood. His posting before the Thirteenth Finance Commission (TFC) and encounter with the negative award of the TFC was challenging, interesting and amazing, he stated, adding during his 28 and half years of service as an officer, the last 10 years in Finance Department was the most difficult and challenging yet rewarding experience.
He recollected how he had to personally beg certain departments to come to the rescue of the State during the crucial moments of the financial constraints and thanked those departments for coming forward to save the state from what is commonly known as embargo.
At the end of the TFC, he said, the closing deficit was Rs. 1542.17 crores. However, with a better award of the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC) from 2015-16 and under the leadership of Chief Minister who is also in-charge of Finance portfolio and efficient Finance Commissioner backed by the efficient officers of the Finance Department, particularly the Budget & Monitoring Cell, for the first time, the State’s deficit could be brought down to a great extent. He hoped that the current year 2016-17 will be one of the most comfortable years after the award of the TFC and opined that there should not be an overdraft during the year. All the Civil Deposits and Backlogs and even the proposals of the current year will be able to be released without much difficulties and problems, he said and appealed to all the officers and staff to continue to work with concerted effort and team spirit.
He also stated that to manage the State’s finances and to be an officer of the Finance Department, one cannot be expected to be liberal but to stand firm to say “No” as and when the situation requires. He recollected that working in the Finance Department for 10 years, the average working hours was about 9-10 hours and during the peak months, it was more than 12 hours. He appealed to the officers to continue with the work culture and ethics which will not only benefit the State, but also personal as it will leave behind a legacy for generations.
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