INTRODUCTION OF MONTHLY PAY SYSTEM IN 11 GRRC, LUCKNOW ON 31 AUGUST 2009

Hon’ble CGDA along with Lt. Gen. G.M.Nair. AVSM, YSM ,Col.11GRRC,GOC HQrs 9 Corps presided the function at Auditorium at office of PCDA(CC) Lucknow on 31st August 2009 for the launch of pilot phase of Monthly Pay System for PBORs of 11GRRC. C.O.S Lt.Gen. Gautam Banerjee , AVSM,YSM , PCDA (CC) Shri. V V Rao, IDAS, Brig. Sohal and Brig.H.G.V Singh, S.M,V.S.M dignitaries were also present to grace the occasion.

The Pilot Phase was implemented on 31/08/2009 for 11GRRC with 6000 nos. (apprx.) strength of PBORs. The Auditorium was fully packed with Army Jawans (500 Nos) and the Officers & Staff (250 Nos.) of Defence Accounts Department. A small presentation given by Jt.CDA Shri. Harihar Mishra, implementing officer about the Monthly Pay System to be adopted by the Pay Accounts Office .
In the existing system, accounts of PBORs are being closed on quarterly basis and payments due to them are being paid through the public fund accounts of their units and not directly into their personal savings bank accounts. Now in the new system introduced from 31/08/2009, salary accounts will be closed on monthly basis and dues will be credited directly into the savings bank accounts of PBORs’. This would provide much greater convenience to PBORs’ apart from simplification in payment and accounting system of the Government. Apart from salary, all other payments due to PBORs’ on account of Provident Fund and other advances shall be credited directly and electronically into such savings bank a/cs of PBORs’.
CGDA in her address told that this is a long awaited dream project of DAD which has come true today. She also told that this system will be implemented in all PAOs throughout the country by June 2010. CGDA & Colonel of the Regiment launched the system by transferring the amount into the Bank accounts of PBORs through online System of SBI followed by the distribution of Monthly Pay Slips to the selected Jawans of the 11 GRRC by all dignitaries. The Colonel of the Regt. Also praised the DAD for their efforts in implementing the MPS professionally.

TRAINING FOR E-TICKETING SYSTEM

A training programme on the e-ticketing system was organized for 78 functionaries of 21 units of three services from 03rd to 06th November, 2009 at the CENTRAD of Office of CGDA. The trainees included 21 officers and 37 PBORs. The theoretical portion of the training session covered classroom lectures on features of IRCTC -website, DAD portal and its links with IRCTC, security features in the system, booking of tickets for various types of Defence Travel, both official and personal, cancellation and management control system for the defence units.

More than 50 % of the time was spent in providing hands on practical training for booking and cancellation of tickets under various travel rules for Defence Services. The trainees performed 136 booking /cancellation transactions to acquire expertise in the system. All the participants were very enthusiastic for early introduction of pilot project and its subsequent extension to entire country. The bugs and deficiencies reported in the e-travel system are being corrected and 3 Service HQrs have been assured about the excellence of the project before its launch. The three (3) Service HQrs have agreed for the launch of the pilot project anytime in last week of November 2009.

The training programme was inaugurated by Mrs. Neeta Kapoor, Addl. CGDA. Speaking on the occasion she assured the Service HQrs that with the availability of a virtual PRS in each unit of Army , Navy and Air Force, booking and cancellation of rail tickets and subsequent train journey on a confirmed ticket would become extremely convenient for 15 lakh uniformed Defence travellers and their families. She thanked the DGOL, Lt. Gen A C Soneja, AVSM, VSM ** and Service HQrs for extending their full co-operation during development of the e-ticketing system and its ensuing launch.

The DGOL who was the Chief Guest on this occasion advised all the participants to devote full attention and energy to master both micro and macro level issues so as to successfully implement the pilot project and also to point out areas of deficiencies in the system, if any. DGOL assured that three Service HQrs would extend their maximum co-operation for the success of pilot project and its subsequent extension through out the country in a short time frame.

While closing the course on 06th November in the valediction session chaired by Shri A K Saxena, Jt. CGDA(Trg), each service officer was requested to give their individual feedback and about 10 PBORs from three Services were also requested to give their feedback. The bugs and deficiencies reported would be rectified within a week’s time and the pilot project should be launched by the last week of November 2009. As requested by Service HQrs, CENTRAD in consultation with project officers of e-ticketing system shall design distance- learning and e-learning packages for covering all units of the three Defence Services in a very tight compressed time frame.

INAUGURATION OF CGDA ‘s CORPORATE OFFICE

The building of the CGDA was dedicated to the Defence Accounts Department on 07th October, 2009 by the Hon’ble RM Shri A K Antony. The occasion was graced by Shri Vinod Rai, C&AG, Sh M M Pallam Raju, Hon'ble RRM, Shri Pradeep Kumar, Defence Secretary, Smt Indu Liberhan, Secretary ( Defence Finance) , Dr. V K Saraswat, SA to RM, other senior officers from service HQrs & MoD, senior serving and retired IDAS officers and other distinguished guests .

The CGDA Smt Bulbul Ghosh while extending a very warm welcome to the Hon’ble RM and other distinguished guests stated that despite his numerous engagements the Hon’ble RM always spares time to participate in the functions of the Department. She said that two years ago on 25th June 2007 we were privileged to have the Hon’ble RM with us to lay the foundation stone of this complex and today again it is a great honour to have him with us to inaugurate our HQrs building. She said that the management control of this land area was given to us in 2007 by the Ministry of Defence and DRDO was selected as the construction agency. She was happy that the department has been able to work within the given time frame without time and cost overrun.She stated that this is a historic moment for the Department and that the Department has grown by leaps and bounds to an extent that it is barely recognizable from what it was thirty-seven years ago when she joined the service. However, despite the department’s growth and its growing relevance, the department always felt the lack of appropriate accommodation for its HQrs. Today, this need has been fulfilled and it is a great honour for the Department.The HQrs office of DAD is at the apex of a vast organization with about 79 field offices and functions through nearly 1000 sub-offices spread all over the country. The HQrs office in its present location at R K Puram, New Delhi has been facing several problems. There has been a severe shortage of space and lack of basic amenities for staff and officers. HQrs office has remained scattered over three different locations, and it was a logistical nightmare.

Mentioning the features of the new complex she said that it has full power back up, state of the art communication devices over LAN and WAN including video conferencing facility, rainwater harvesting and reuse of water through sewage treatment plant, easy access for the physically challenged , fire detection and fire fighting systems confirming to BIS, double glazing for heat insulation and acoustic proofing and access control system to secure the building against unauthorized entry. She placed on record the Department’s deep appreciation for all those who have been involved in the project at every stage right form conception through design to execution.

Smt Indu Liberhan, Secretary (Defence Finance) thanked all the people associated with the project especially the Hon’ble RM under whose munificence the Defence land was allotted and sanction for expenditure accorded for construction of the building. She hoped that the Department would accomplish many more achievements from the new building.

The RRM, Shri Pallam Raju in his speech stated that the Defence Accounts Department works as custodian of our Defence finances. He also appreciated the steps taken by the department to provide greater customer satisfaction. He mentioned the success story of the project for monthly closing of pay accounts for Personnel Below Officer rank and wished DAD greater success in all such ventures.He mentioned that provision of DAD HQrs own building is another step in providing a healthy and conducive working environment to officers and staff and that it is doubly gratifying that the building is magnificient and boasts so many eco-friendly features and advanced facilities. It would motivate DAD to work vigorously to achieve its organizational goals.

The C&AG felt privileged to be present on the occasion on account of his long association with the Department. He felt that the building could rival any of the other office complexes that have recently come up in the public domain. He said that the work of internal audit and statutory audit are complementary and that he has always endeavoured to ensure that both work together in the greatest harmony. He assured that the Indian Audit and Accounts Department will continue to look forward to strengthening ties with the Defence Accounts Department and would make glorious achievements in streamlining defence spending and also enhance the cause of accountability and transparency in defence expenditure.


The Hon’ble RM while congratulating the Department for its new corporate building and recalling the time when the foundation stone for the building was laid felt very delighted to note that all the arrears of pay and allowances and pension resulting from the Sixth Pay Commission have been paid, as promised by the CGDA on 1st October, 2009 - the Annual Day of Defence Accounts Department. He was happy to note that the project has been completed on time and within the projected cost. He hoped the Department would be able to derive full benefit from the state-of-the –art facilities provided in the building and the people working here would thus derive motivation to work with renewed vigour to uphold the values enshrined in the Mission Statement and Quality Policy of the Department. He commended the DRDO and all other agencies and personnel associated with the project for doing a good job. He hoped that the building would serve as a symbol of pride for the Defence Accounts Department and would be a tribute to the Department’s professional reputation.

After dedicating the building to the Department the Hon’ble RM along with all the dignitaries visited the complex and appreciated the state-of-the-art facilities and quality of construction of the building.