Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday urged the Public Accounts Committees (PACs) of Parliament and State Legislatures to strengthen their oversight of public expenditure and ensure that every rupee of taxpayers’ money is properly utilised.
Inaugurating the Conference of Chairpersons of Public Accounts Committees in Thiruvananthapuram, Birla stressed that transparency and accountability are essential to democracy. He said PACs should examine not only financial records but also whether public funds achieve their intended objectives.
Expressing concern over audit observations remaining unresolved for 10 to 20 years, he called for a time-bound action plan to clear pending issues and improve monitoring mechanisms.
Birla also highlighted the importance of appointing Opposition members as PAC chairpersons, describing it as a significant democratic convention that promotes cooperation beyond political differences. He said the committees must work collectively to prevent misuse and wastage of public money and strengthen public trust in governance.
