Instead, the regular participants in Gujarat’s budget-making exercise just clicked to enable country’s first online system that would help administration better utilise the funds.
Integrated Financial Management System, an online tool, has not only changed the way the budget is being prepared has also facilitated real time monitoring of expenditure incurred after the budget is passed by the state assembly. Importantly, the manpower of officials has been reduced by 60%, said an official in the state’s finance ministry.
While many states have adopted systems similar to IFMS, what makes Gujarat different from its peers is the real time tracking of the expenses.
"The movement of files is synchronised now. It saves a lot of time and energy and we can focus more on nuances of budget making rather than running from one department to other. Now there is no piling of files," says Nanda who takes care of the environment and forest department.
