Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Evolve model to assess poll expenses: Krishnamurthy

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Chief Election Commissioner, T.S. Krishnamurthy, has called upon Cost and Works Accountants (CWAs) to evolve a model that could assess election expenses with greater accuracy.

Addressing the valedictory function of the diamond jubilee of the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India here on Sunday, he said neither the Election Commission (EC) nor the Central and State Governments had a complete picture of the cost incurred for conducting elections. "It is all surmise or broad figures we get from various agencies."

Referring to a recent study undertaken by him on the election expenditure in one State and extrapolated it to the national level, Mr. Krishnamurthy said he was not satisfied with the work as it was not done scientifically or professionally. Though the EC adopted some "rough and ready method" for giving information on the election expenditure for the whole country, it was not satisfactory, he felt.

`Initiative needed'

He was of the view that some individual initiative should come on behalf of the institute now to demonstrate to the Government, the EC and other agencies that the CWAs had the expertise and wherewithal to take up the job. If they proved their capability to compile all necessary information at least in one constituency, then "we can think of extending it either to the State or the national level study", he said. "I urge the institute to consider how best we can improve because these have tremendous implications."

`Diversify'

Mr. Krishnamurthy called upon the CWAs to play a vibrant role in the competitive world by diversifying to new areas of professional activity. They could play an important role in assessing the areas of the Government suffering losses, with particular reference to the losses owing to delay in execution of projects. No serious study had been taken up on this count, he said.

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