The Bengal panchayat and rural development department has decided to conduct workshops on financial management for elected representatives at all three tiers of the panchayat system in a bid to minimise the possibilities of malpractices and misappropriation of funds.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had asked the elected representatives at gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and zilla panchayats to be careful while spending government funds.

Last week, in a directive to district magistrates, Mamata specifically directed them to take stringent steps in case any one is found guilty of defalcation of funds provided to the rural bodies under different central or state government schemes.

“She has instructed the DMs to file FIRs against such persons which clearly indicate that the state government is not ready to remain silent on the allegations of financial misappropriation, especially because rural polls are due in less than a year. The plan to conduct workshops on financial management is aimed at sending a message that financial propriety is a priority,” said a senior state government official.

In the past few years, complaints of misappropriation of funds meant for common people by a section of elected representatives were reported from a number of districts. In some places like Malda, such charges were levelled even against a section of employees in panchayats.

The workshop, sources said, will be conducted by officials of district administrations and different state departments, especially those who conduct audits and inspections and release bills.

“Elected representatives of all three tiers will join the workshops. They would be apprised of the rules and laws which need to be followed while allocating funds, the sources of different funds, the rules for making purchases, the process of preparing the budget and how they can augment their revenue earnings,” said an official.

In Jalpaiguri, the workshop will commence on August 25.

“The workshop would be held in all districts. In some districts like Malda, it has already been conducted. Specific instructions have been

sent to district administrations to confirm that financial dealings of every rural body, right from panchayat to

zilla parishad, are being monitored regularly,” the official said.

In the past few months, the Centre stopped the release of funds under a number of welfare schemes, which include the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme (MGNREGS), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

“The decision was made after central teams had visited different districts of Bengal to conduct a survey on the implementation of these schemes. They noticed a number of irregularities with regard to the utilization of the funds,” said another official.