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JAMMU: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah informed the Legislative Assembly today that the decision to shift the Planning Department’s functions to the Finance Department is under review, and any necessary changes will be implemented accordingly. The Chief Minister made this statement while responding to a supplementary question from Javid Hassan Beig.
He reiterated that he had already mentioned during the budget and grants discussion that the functions of the Planning Department were being transferred to the Finance Department, and the government is now reviewing the decision to determine if any modifications are needed. Regarding another supplementary question on the General Provident (GP) Fund, the Chief Minister acknowledged that employees sometimes experience delays in receiving their disbursements.
“This occurs when the treasury position becomes constrained. However, we are making every effort to ensure that employees receive their GP funds as quickly as possible,” he assured the House. Informing the House about the status of GP Fund disbursement, the Chief Minister stated that Rs 5,476 crore has been paid as GPF during the 2024-25 financial year.
As the Minister in charge of both Finance and Planning, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah clarified that the allocation of funds—whether for Revenue Expenditure or Capital Expenditure—falls under the purview of the Finance Department in accordance with business rules and statutory norms. Earlier, while responding to the member’s question, he informed the House that funds for all departments in the J&K Government are allocated through the Budget Estimation, Allocation & Monitoring System (BEAMS), which is the most efficient mechanism for real-time fund allocation.
He highlighted that this system has significantly improved efficiency, accountability, and reporting while ensuring effective monitoring of financial resources. The Chief Minister stated that the Finance Department has been handling the Capex Budget since FY 2019-20. He further elaborated that IT-enabled platforms such as BEAMS (Budget Estimation, Allocation & Monitoring System), PAYSYS (Payment System), PROOF (Photographic Record of On-site Facility), and Treasury Net have been implemented to enable real-time tracking of resource flow and expenditure, ensuring greater transparency and accountability in public finances.
“Additionally, through the EMPOWERMENT (Enabling Monitoring and Public Overview of Works Executed and Resources for Meaningful Transparency) system / Janbhagidari portal, every citizen has access to track the release of funds from the Finance Department down to the level of the executing/implementing agency. This is the first-of-its-kind system that allows people to oversee works being executed in their areas, with real-time progress monitoring. This initiative serves as a powerful tool for the real empowerment of the general public,” he said.
