Covid-19 Fallout: J&K To Cut Expenditure Within 20% Of Budget Estimates In Q1

Employee payment in respect of salary arrears, LTC, Leave encashment, may not be made during the period of April-June 2020 without the prior consent of the finance department.

Srinagar: Health officials spray disinfectant on an ambulance that ferried the body of a 72-year-old man who died due to coronavirus, at Tangmarg in Baramulla District of North Kashmir. PIC/PTI

Srinagar, April 30: In a move to manage financial instability caused due to outbreak of Covid-19 and dwindling economic activities, the Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to restrict overall expenditure within 20 per cent of budget estimates in the first quarter. The government has specified that employees will get only regular salaries with child education allowance from Apr-Jun 2020. In the wake of the prevalent situation, the government on Wednesday said that the department are required to restrict the overall expenditure within 20 per cent of budget estimates, 2020-21 in first quarter (April-June 2020). A circular in this regard was issued by the Finance Commissioner, Finance Department, Arun Kumar Mehta, which states, “The employees will only get their regular salaries including Child Education Allowance.” It added that payment in respect of salary arrears, LTC, Leave encashment, may not be made during the period of April-June 2020 without the prior consent of the finance department. It further added that transport allowance shall not be drawn in respect of employees who have not attended the office during the lockdown period. The circular further reads that advance payment for medical treatment would be given to emergency cases only, adding that the office expenses will be given to only committed liabilities which cannot be avoided. It went on to mention that expenditure on other non-salary heads including minor works, GIA may not be incurred without the prior consent of finance department, adding that in case of Capex/plan budget, expenditure on essential activities can be initiated after the formulation of the plan and uploading the work wise activity on the BEAMS with prior approval of the department.