CAG INTERACTS WITH EXECUTIVES OF SEVEN UNION MINISTRIES

CAG INTERACTS WITH EXECUTIVES OF SEVEN UNION MINISTRIES
With a view to involve the executive side in the audit planning process by eliciting their suggestions on areas which could be selected for audit, the CAG interacted with the representatives of seven selected ministries here today. This would help to understand their concerns and would also supplement the risk assessment exercise being undertaken by the CAG in the course of finalising the annual plan of audit activities.
The meeting was chaired by Ms. Anita Pattanayak, Deputy Comptroller and Auditor General for more effective audit exercise with the Secretaries and representatives of the selected central Ministries and Departments. These included Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Jal Shakti, Earth Sciences, New and Renewable Energy, Science and Technology, Food Processing Industries and Food and Consumer Affairs. Today’s meeting was intended to focus on Development, Technology and Climate related issues. Initiating the discussion, the Dy. CAG said, “We are keen on this interaction as we appreciate that, activities undertaken by scientific and environmental ministries are critical to the national objective of broad based economic growth and balanced development across all sectors. Food and nutritional security is another key challenge that the country is grappling with, which requires timely and sustained Government interventions”. Participating the discussion, Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation emphasised the role of CAG in accessing outcomes of important interventions of the government.

Bringing together innovation, technology, enterprise and efficient management at the core of policy formulation and implementation, participative approach, review of activities towards meeting SDG targets, agenda of Government towards energy, better air, water and environment and review of efforts by Government towards promoting S&T driven entrepreneurship and innovation were some of the focus areas highlighted by the CAG. The executive side shared their perceptions on the ongoing schemes of the government and areas where an audit by the CAG was desirable.

The brain storming session was the second such exercise held by the federal auditors, following a suggestion by the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi during the conclave of Accountants General held in November last year to make the institution of the CAG of India friendlier and a more active contributor in good governance.