Audit Report 2023-24

This document is the Kerala State Audit Department report for Pozhuthana Grama Panchayat for the financial year 2023-24. The audit reviewed annual accounts, project implementation, grant utilization, tax collection, welfare schemes, and financial management systems.

Key Financial Details

  • Opening Balance: ₹2.61 crore
  • Total Receipts: ₹5.78 crore
  • Total Expenditure: ₹4.73 crore
  • Closing Balance: ₹3.65 crore

Project Review

  • Approved projects: 200
  • Implemented projects: 101
  • Not implemented: 99
  • Project completion rate: 50.5%

Welfare Schemes

The Panchayat implemented major social welfare pension schemes:

  • Old-age pension – 1568 beneficiaries
  • Widow pension – 932 beneficiaries
  • Disability pension – 220 beneficiaries
  • Agricultural labour pension – 139 beneficiaries

Major Audit Findings

The audit identified several accounting and administrative issues:

  • Mandatory financial statements and comparative data were missing.
  • Monthly financial statements and bank reconciliations were incomplete.
  • Differences existed in cash flow, ledger, and deposit records.
  • Asset depreciation and liabilities were not properly recorded.
  • Some cheques remained uncleared or were not moved to stale cheque accounts.
  • MGNREGS, grant utilization, and deposit figures did not match annual accounts.
  • Professional tax was not collected from contractors.
  • Property tax collection records differed from annual financial statements.
  • Unlicensed businesses and resorts were found operating.
  • Rental arrears existed in Panchayat-owned buildings.

Audit Recommendations

The report recommends improving accounting systems, updating financial records, strengthening tax and revenue collection, and ensuring better monitoring of projects and grants.

  • Audit Report 2023-24