Zunheboto Deputy Commissioner Dharam Raj, IAS addresses officials during the District Level Urban Local Bodies Reform and Monitoring Committee meeting at the DC Office Conference Hall, Zunheboto on September 8. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Zunheboto | September 8
Deputy Commissioner Zunheboto, Dharam Raj, IAS, stressed the need for greater financial accountability, proper record-keeping and transparent revenue collection by Town Councils during the meeting of the District Level Urban Local Bodies Reform and Monitoring Committee held at the DC Office Conference Hall on September 8.
The meeting was attended by officials and representatives of the Zunheboto, Satakha, Aghunato and Atoizu Town Councils.
Addressing the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner said Town Councils must maintain proper financial systems and ensure that all revenue, expenditure, grants and other financial transactions are duly recorded and verified.
He particularly pointed out that the Executive Officer (EO) is the authorised official responsible for signing official documents and financial records on behalf of the Town Council. He cautioned against the practice of councillors signing documents such as licences and other official papers that require the EO’s approval.
DC noted that elected councillors have an important role in providing policy direction, while administrative and financial procedures must follow the prescribed rules.
DC Raj also directed that all registers related to receipts and expenditure should be properly maintained and signed by the authorised signatories. He cited even small collections, such as household garbage collection fees, as requiring proper documentation to ensure accountability.
On auditing, the DC called for regular internal audits of Town Council accounts. He said assistance could be sought from the Treasury Department for conducting audits and improving financial management.
The meeting also discussed the need to strengthen and digitise revenue collection systems. The DC encouraged Town Councils to adopt proper procedures for issuing challans and depositing collected revenue into the designated accounts, ensuring that transactions can be properly tracked and verified.
Representatives of the Town Councils highlighted the financial difficulties faced by the urban local bodies, particularly limited revenue collection and the difficulty of meeting expenditure such as salaries and fuel costs.
The DC directed the councils to examine their revenue and expenditure patterns and work towards improving their own-source revenue through proper collection of authorised taxes, fees and user charges.
The representatives also raised issues relating to banking arrangements, pending payments and other administrative difficulties. The DC assured that the concerns raised would be examined and appropriate guidance provided.
