Thiruvananthapuram (Keralam) [India], November 3 (ANI): Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairperson K C Venugopal on Tuesday stressed the importance of effective legislative oversight, transparency and timely action on committee recommendations, saying that Public Accounts Committees play an important role in ensuring accountability in the use of public resources.
Addressing a conference of Public Accounts Committees inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Venugopal said the committees identify gaps in the system and facilitate discussions to improve the implementation of government schemes and policies.
“Public Accounts Committees intervene, identifying gaps in the system, gaps in the physical world, to set the discussion; how this happens in an open, transparent and simple process is the soul of it, in achieving the mission of the scheme,” he said.
He said the effectiveness of Public Accounts Committees also depends on the response of government departments to their recommendations, emphasising the need for timely action and regular reporting on the progress made.
“Additionally, the value of Public Accounts Committees depends substantially on policy presentation. Both are accountable and highly responsible departments and sustained attention to accept a recommendation. A robust union department should be employed to take timely and correct action to report on the progress made, and there will be a process for being more productive through legislative oversight. In this regard, the meeting of the Public Accounts Committee must be taken as a just example,” Venugopal said.
Highlighting the importance of evidence-based examination, he said, “The Committee’s call for evidence is quite important for its purpose, to improve skills and policies and the activities and the welfare of the people.”
Venugopal also highlighted the importance of sharing experiences and building institutional capacity among Public Accounts Committees across the region.
“The opportunity of the Committee lies in sharing models of capacity within and the exchange of experience among the PACs. The conference can help us identify practical approaches that may be adopted across this region, while respecting the particular use to meet other circumstances,” he said.
Emphasising that public resources belong to the people, Venugopal said their utilisation must be guided by integrity, public interest and financial accountability.
“Considering the observation that public resources are a condition of government action, these resources also belong to the people, and their use must therefore be guided by principles, integrity, and also the development of the public interest and financial accountability,” he said.
“It’s not merely an important requirement. It is an essential safeguard of public trust in the functioning of the legislature, financial control, and the orderly functioning,” he added.
Venugopal said PAC recommendations should be practical and implementable, while the committee’s scrutiny should ensure economy in public expenditure and better utilisation of resources.
“As Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, we have a collective responsibility to ensure that the recommendations are practical and implementable, and that the process of economy continues to deliver better value,” he said.
Expressing hope that the conference deliberations would contribute to a better understanding of the role of Public Accounts Committees, he said, “I am hoping that the deliberations of this conference will add to our shared understanding and recording of the PAC and help us to take away useful ideas and practices.”
Venugopal thanked the chairperson, members and delegates for their participation.
“I thank the Chairperson, members and delegates for their active participation and driving contribution. I also place on record my appreciation for the officers and staff who worked to organise this conference and support its proceedings,” he said.
Concluding his address, the PAC Chairperson said stronger cooperation among committees of Parliament and state legislatures would strengthen accountability and contribute to good governance.
“I have no doubt that our discussions and deliberations will be stronger for more active thinking and renewed commitment to responsible management of public resources. Through our collective approach, the Public Accounts Committees of Parliaments and the State Legislatures, in addition to strengthening legislative oversight, will not only make the Government accountable but also contribute to good governance,” he said. (ANI)
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