Ministries told to expedite budgetary process

In a bid to tackle delay in implementation of crucial projects, all ministries have been asked to initiate the budgetary process much in advance so that funds can be released soon after the Budget is passed.

"After the Budget is passed, normally it takes 5-6 months to get the allocated funds released. In a recent cabinet meeting, all ministries have been told to start the necessary work in advance for the next Budget," Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan said at the 41st foundation day of the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB).

This was conveyed to all ministers informally after a recent cabinet meeting, he said.

"We have been told in our Department to start the process now so that funds for crucial schemes are released within 15 days after the Budget is passed in February," he said on the sidelines of the event when asked to elaborate on the issue.

The timely release of allocated funds is crucial for the successful implementation of various schemes, he added.

The Finance Ministry has already initiated the Budgetary exercise for the 2015-16 fiscal by seeking inputs from various Ministries and Departments.

The ministries have been asked to submit revised estimates of expenditure for 2014-15 and demand for grants for the next financial year beginning April 1, 2015.

The Budget, which contains revised estimates for the current financial year and estimates for the next fiscal, is presented on the last working day of February by the Finance Minister in the Lok Sabha.

This would be the second Budget of the Modi government.

On availability of agri-talent in the country, Singh said that the country has never faced shortage of talent but the issue has always been "identifying" the right one.

In order to identify the talent pool, Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) is making good efforts.

However, the need of the hour is that the research work of scientists should be transfered to the farm field for achieving next level of growth in the sector, the Minister said.

He called upon the agri-scientists' community to adopt at least one village and undertake work in that area.

On vacancies not getting filled up in the government body Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Minister said that efforts will be made to absorb more talent in the next year. "About 600-1000 vacant posts will be filled up in the next year," he said.

Currently in ICAR institutes, about 20 per cent of the total 6,600 cadre strength remains vacant.

By February, ASRB is aiming to fill up 300 vacant posts. Efforts are being made to absorb at the entry level, ASRB Chairman Gurbachan Singh said and suggested talent should also be attracted from abroad.