Government payments to soon come under ECS mode

BANGALORE: In order to bring in more efficiency and transparency in its financial transactions, the state government has decided to make most of its payments through electronic clearance system (ECS) under a scheme called ‘Khajane 2’, an online treasury system.This is an extension of ‘Khajane’ programme which was launched ten years ago to computerise all the 216 treasury offices in the state.The state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda here on Thursday gave its approval for the programme to be implemented at a cost of Rs 90 crore, of which Rs 60 crore will be spent on developing necessary hardware and the rest towards maintenance of the system.Under the programme, the government will establish a system where most of its payments — including salaries of all government employees, payments to the service and commodity providers, pensions and payments under various social security schemes — are made through electronic mode.“As all payments are made directly into bank accounts, there will be greater transparency,” Minister V S Acharya said. The setting up of Karnataka Antaraganga Micro Irrigation Corporation to evolve uniform subsidies for farmers taking up drip irrigation was also approved.EWS Housing SchemeThe state Cabinet gave its approval for the housing department’s ambitious project ‘Nanna Mane’, a housing scheme for the poor. The housing department will build 1,668 houses of three different categories. People whose annual income lies in between Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh are eligible for these flats.