New Delhi: Retired IAS officer Rajiv Mehrishi, who demitted the workplace of Comptroller and Auditor Normal of India (CAG) on Friday, mentioned that there was a radical shift in the best way the federal government’s auditor now works with its studies being extra substantive and centered, and there being no “roving or fishing enquiries”.
“We’re a big ship and it takes time to show. However some steps have been taken. In case you take a look at CAG studies now, they’re extraordinarily significant,” Mehrishi, who headed the constitutional physique for nearly three years (from September 2017 until Friday), mentioned.
G C Murmu, who was Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, will take over as the brand new CAG on Saturday.
Detailing how CAG now focuses on particular audits fairly than going into coverage points or developing with headline-making figures, Mehrishi mentioned : “Take the instance of efficiency audits (analyzing efficiency of presidency departments in accordance with rules of economic system, effectivity and effectiveness), which makes for probably the most fascinating studying. What we have been doing was in a dissipated and non-focused method. The concept (now) is to get them to concentrate on points and attempt to reply these points”. His reference is to outcome-based audits .
Mehrishi cited the instance of CAG’s audit of Uttar Pradesh’s hospitals in December, wherein it centered on particular points such because the toddler mortality information and the nurse to mattress ratio.
The audit physique has additionally initiated the observe of partaking area consultants from varied establishments,akin to the Indian Institutes of Expertise and the Indian Institutes of Administration, so that there’s “high quality management” in writing the studies. Mehrishi mentioned that CAG took assist of a physician whereas finalizing the audit report on UP hospitals. Equally, IIT Delhi’s assist was taken by CAG for a report on Delhi Metro.
CAG can also be engaged on making its audit studies “shorter” and extra accessible in order that most of the people can learn and perceive them. “The lengthy studies are troublesome to learn.”
Mehrishi additionally confirmed that CAG plans to conduct an audit of the Direct Profit Switch (DBT) scheme of the federal government with a concentrate on protection (establishing correspondence between beneficiaries and advantages), effectivity, and design of fee course of. The audit will even take a look at the outcomes. DBT is a scheme of presidency to switch the advantages and subsidies of assorted social welfare schemes on to the checking account of the beneficiary.
Different officers in CAG, who didn’t want to be named, mentioned {that a} crew of CAG visited Geneva final month to audit the World Well being Group (WHO). Mehrishi was elected because the exterior auditor of WHO in June 2019 for 4 years. Murmu will now take over the proceedings.
CAG additionally plans to conduct an audit on the supply of medication, medicines and gear in all authorities medical establishments all through the nation, wherein it’s going to embrace procurement of Covid-19 equipments/medicines as effectively.