PUNJAB DIGITIZES FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, ENHANCES ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY WITH MAJOR TREASURY REFORMS: FINANCE MINISTER, SAYS, TECHNOLOGIES LIKE SNA-SPARSH, PSP AND AMS DELIVER SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS, INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY, AND IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY
Face2News/Chandigarh
The Directorate of Treasury and Accounts (DTA), Punjab, has unveiled a suite of major digital transformation initiatives aimed at modernising financial administration, boosting transparency, and enhancing efficiency across all government departments. These reforms, spanning accounting, audit, fund management, and citizen services, mark a significant step towards fully digital governance in Punjab.
Stating this in a press communiqué issued here, Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Directorate has successfully developed the SNA-SPARSH, a new fund flow mechanism for centrally sponsored schemes, and has availed an incentive of Rs. 450 Crore in FY 24-25. He said that this integrated framework connects the Public Financial Management System (PFMS), state IFMS, and RBI's E-kuber system, aiming to increase cash liquidity in the treasury and reduce unutilized funds parked in bank accounts.
“A separate SNA SPARSH treasury has been created to facilitate this mechanism, and the state is now aiming for an incentive of Rs. 350 Crore under Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment for the fiscal year 2025-26 (SASCI 2025-26)”, he added.
Highlighting another key initiative, the Finance Minister said that the Pensioner Sewa Portal (PSP) has been developed in consultation with Punjab Development Commission (PDC) to create a centralised database of all pensioners and facilitate online pension case processing between banks and the treasury. He said that this portal enables activities like sending e-PPO from treasury to banks and provides pensioners with real-time tracking of pension updates, grievance handling, life certificate integrations, and the ability to submit updation requests.
Discussing the new Audit Management System (AMS), the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that AMS grants all stakeholders real-time access to audit reports and facilitates enhanced oversight, with regular review meetings at the Administrative Secretary level for timely resolution of audit paras. “The DTA also plans to include the Accountant General's audit reports in its future roadmap”, said Cheema.
“The new initiatives also include the Non-Treasury Module, a non-treasury accounting system developed in coordination with the Accountant General (AG) office to streamline the accounting for deposit works by the Forest and Works departments. This system automates the submission of monthly accounts by all divisions in these departments”, said the Finance Minister.
Adding further, the Finance Minister said that the Punjab Government has also commenced the use of e-vouchers for all bills across Punjab, a measure expected to significantly reduce costs related to stationery, travelling, and the handling of physical vouchers submitted to the AG Punjab. He said that the necessary hardware for storing these e-vouchers has been procured and installed at the AG premises.
Hailing the new systems, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that, from automating departmental accounts and ensuring efficient central fund flow through SNA-SPARSH to digitising the entire audit and pension processes, these initiatives will deliver significant savings, increase accountability, and, most importantly, improve service delivery to our employees and citizens.
“With the introduction of these comprehensive digital systems, we are not just upgrading software; we are fundamentally reforming our financial architecture to ensure every rupee is accounted for and utilised effectively", he added.