Evolution of Computerisation in Treasuries and Accounts Department

PIONEERING INITIAL SYSTEM OF DATA CENTRE, (70’S & 80’S)

Treasuries and Accounts Department is one of the first departments to adopt computerized systems. The computing facilities at Government Data Centre, Chennai was used from early 1970s for preparing monthly accounts. The data received from all the treasuries were captured using punched cards and processed on IBM 1401 system. It is a commendable pioneering initiative of the department. But, the hardware and software facilities of that time was not suited for effective implementation of the systems since the whole data has to be received to a central location at Chennai and entered. However, this has created an awareness on usage of computers for majority of the employees of the department and introduced systems amenable for computerisation

FIRST PHASE:

• In 1992-1993 pilot implementation in two Sub Treasuries viz., Nandanam and Tambaram in Thiruvallur District for the purpose of preparation of inputs of daily receipts and payments.

• Subsequently, AT-286 Systems at Sub Treasuries and AT-386/486 systems with multiple terminals were provided for consolidation of Accounts at District Treasuries and Pay and Accounts Offices for compilation of monthly accounts.

• The systems were developed in FoxBASE under Sco-Unix environment for implementation of accounts compilation.

• Our software requirements are being met by National Informatic Centre, Government of , Chennai from the inception.

• On training front very few staff members have got exposure to the limited extent of preparation of Inputs which form a part of treasury accounting system.

SECOND PHASE:

• Later (1997-98) the systems in District Treasuries and Pay and Account Offices were upgraded to Pentium-I.

• The sub treasuries continued to work with the old systems

THIRD PHASE : (2003 and 2004)

• The old systems have been replaced by new ones in all the District Treasuries, Pay and Accounts Offices and in one third of Sub-treasuries. The balance sub-treasuries still continue to work with the old systems.

• However, the usage of computers is limited to the preparation of inputs and finalisation of accounts and monthly pension pilot scheme.

• Electronic Clearance System has been introduced for the payment of salaries of Government employees drawing through the Pay and Accounts Offices in Chennai and , by directly crediting the salaries to their respective bank accounts

• A pilot automated bill passing system in Pay and Accounts Office (Secretariat), Chennai-9, District Treasury and Sub Treasuries of District and the District Treasury, Karur, is under testing stage.

• E-mail connectivity between District Treasuries, Pay and Accounts Offices with the Office of the Special Commisioner and Commissioner of Treasuries and Accounts and Office automation has been established.

• For the all the above programmmes also, the software have been developed by National Informatics Centre, Government of India, Chennai .

• Total computerisation of all the activities of the Department has been planned. Please see under e-Initiatives.

SOME INHOUSE DEVELOPMENTS:

• The staff of EDP wing of the Commissionerate has developed a software for “ALL INDIA SERVICE OFFIERS’ GROUP INSURANCE SCHEME” covering all the IAS,IPS and IFS officers of Cadre. The software was got certified by the National Informatics Centre, Chennai and implemented successfully from 2004. This project has been developed in Visual Basic 6.0 as front end and Sql. Server 2000 as backend and crystal reports.

• Another staff of EDP wing of the Commissionerate has developed a software in Visual Basic 6.0 as front end and Sql. Server 2000 as backend and crystal reports, for the implementation of “ HEALTH FUND SCHEME FOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES” which has also been certified by the National Informatics Centre, Chennai. This is a huge project which covers nearly 6.5.lakhs employees, with an inflow and outflow put together amounting to Rs. 14 Crores annually. This package made the system very efficient, update and “online” from 2004.

• A treasury staff in Theni District has developed a software package for “STRONG ROOM OPERATIONS” in Foxbase which is yet to be tested and implemented.

• A software for has been developed for “INSPECTION OF TREASURIES” through computers and has been successfully implemented in Theni District.. The package which has been developed by the staff of this department in Visual Basix 6.0. as front end and MS Access as back end.