MINUTES OF FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING OF NORTH EAST ZONE CULTURAL CENTRE HELD ON 23^rd MAY 2007 AT NEZCC COMPLEX, DIMAPUR

 

Annual meeting of the Finance Committee of the North East Zone Cultural Centre was held at NEZCC Complex on 23^rd May 2007. Following members were present.

1.       Shri. K.K Sema, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Art and Culture, Govt. of Nagaland and Chairman Finance Committee.

2.       Shri. M. K. Barooah, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Cultural Affairs, Govt. of Assam.

3.      Shri. S. D. Dhakal, Joint Secretary, Cultural Affairs & Heritage Department, Govt. of Sikkim.

4.        Smt. V. Hekali Zhimomi, IAS, Director-Member-Secretary, NEZCC.

 

Shri. K.K Sema, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Art and Culture, Govt. of Nagaland and Chairman Finance Committee chaired the meeting. The Chairman welcomed all the members and thanked the members from Assam and Sikkim for taking efforts to attend the meeting. While noting that such meetings should be held in different member States from time to time.

Thereafter the agenda items were taken up for deliberation.

1.         Confirmation of the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting held on 9^th November 2006.

The Committee after thorough discussion confirmed the minutes of the last Finance Committee meeting held on 9^th November 2006.

2.       Action taken report on minutes of the Finance Committee meeting held on 9^th November 2006

Action taken report on the last meeting minutes was placed in the meeting for information. The Director NEZCC informed the Committee of the action taken on the action points. She informed that the Centre has not taken legal action against the Leafin India Ltd. as a case on the matter is pending in the Lower Court of Magistrate in Dimapur.  Audit Certificate for the year 1995 to 2000 has been received from the A.G. and the Annual Report for the years both in Hindi and English were submitted to the MOC on 7^th February, 2007. The Centre has also now received Audit Certificate for the years 2000 – 01 to 2003-04 and necessary action is being taken to translate the Annual Reports to Hindi and submit the same to Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The Committee after discussion approved the Action taken report with following suggestions.

a.         For realization of the bad investment with the Leafin India Ltd. the Committee directed the NEZCC to engage a legal expert to take up the case and approved to pay either the fee or a 2 to 5% of the amount realized subject to realization of the amount from the Company.

b.         It was also decided that the Chairman NEZCC may be requested to take up the matter of the Corpus due from the member States with the concerned State Governments.

c.         The Committee suggested that States such as Arunachal Pradesh, which are facing difficulties in paying Rs 100 lakh, could be asked to approach DONER and the NEC for assistance for releasing the dues of the State’s share towards the Corpus Fund of the NEZCC.

d.         The Director, NEZCC was asked to request the A.G. to issue the Audit Certificate for the remaining years to enable the Centre to take necessary action to update the Annual Reports.

e.         The Committee was also of the view that the proposal for fund for publicity and marketing for promotion of activities of NEZCC the Centre may be submitted to DONER and NEC and also to request the Ministry of Tourism for considering sanction of fund for Cultural Tourism out of 10% budget allocated for the NE Region.

f.          The Committee also decided that a formal proposal with all details for construction of Auditorium & Guest house should be submitted again to the Ministry of Culture. It was also suggested that the proposal could be resubmitted as a Multi Cultural Complex proposal under the Ministry of Culture.

3.       Scheme-wise Achievements of 2006-07

 Achievements report of 2006-07 was placed in the meeting for information. While reviewing the achievements report Shri. S. D. Dhakal, Joint Secretary, Cultural Affairs & Heritage Department, Govt. of Sikkim suggested that under the Guru Shishya Parampara Scheme the NEZCC should consider 10 to 12 participants under one Guru to enable the Guru to engage musicians etc. required for training the selected art form. Shri. M. K. Barooah, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary, Cultural Affairs, Assam suggested that enough publicity on the scheme may be given in local languages and a brief note highlighting the scheme may be circulated to the Deputy Commissioners for circulating in their area to elicit more responses for Government of India Schemes implemented by the Centre. The Committee also suggested that if any states failed to recommend required number of proposals in time, the projects for their States might be allotted to other States for utilization of the fund and implementation of the scheme in time. The Committee suggested that a copy of letter sent to Directors of Art & Culture should also be sent to the Commissioner & Secretaries. It was also suggested that since most of the Schemes has Hindi names, the Centre should explain the terminologies and also make an effort to coin indigenous names/equivalent for some of the awards/schemes.  The Committee appreciated the efforts taken by the Centre for successful implementation all the schemes.

4.       Budget Estimate 2007- 08

Detailed notes on Budget Estimate and the Statement of Actuals 2006-2007 and Budget Estimate 2007- 08 were placed in the meeting for discussion and approval. The Director, NEZCC briefed the committee on the present position of the Corpus Fund, annual interest earnings from the Corpus Fund Investment, the actual expenditure incurred during 2006-07 and budget proposals for the year 2007-08. The Committee after thorough discussion approved the Actuals 2006-2007, Budget Estimate 2007- 08 and proposals with following observations.

a.            The NEZCC should request Ministry of Culture, Government of India for sanction of special grants from budget allocated for the North East Region

b.            The medical claims of the employees should be regulated as per Government of Nagaland norms.

c.               Approved to buy a new vehicle-Bolero for the Director

d.            Indian Museum, Kolkota and Victorial Memorial  should be requested for allocation of grants for development of the NEZCC Museum

e.            Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library may be requested for financial assistance for development of the NEZCC Library

f.             The NEZCC should request the member states to donate some books for the NEZCC Library. The Commissioner & Secretary Government of Assam said that the State would donate some books for the NEZCC Library. The Joint Secretary, Government of Sikkim also stated that a written request should be sent to their Department for books on Sikkim.

g.            The Centre should construct a fabricated structure for hoardings at the main entrance of the Shilpgram in place of construction of gate at the main entrance.

h.            The NEZCC should construct an Assam type cottage at Shilpgram Complex for an officer so that an officer will be available at the Complex always. The Committee approved to allocate an amount of Rs.5.00 lakh out of the interest earnings from Corpus Fund for the purpose.

i.             The budget provision for Shilpgram Advisory Committee meeting may be reduced to Rs.10,000/-

j.              The NEZCC may take necessary action to sponsor some cultural troupes for Hornbill Festival Nagaland under NCEP participation.

5.         Reimbursement/Grant of Assistance for Ms. Jaya Kalra’s Art Exhibition at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi from January 23 to 30, 2006

An agenda on reimbursement for an Art Exhibition organized by Ms. Jaya Kalra, an eminent artist of Meghalaya, at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi amounting to Rs.1,04,256/- only, was placed in the meeting. It was proposed that reimbursement for Ms. Jaya Kalra’s Art Exhibition be made by NEZCC in consultation with the Department of Art & Culture, Govt. of Meghalaya from the fund allocated for the approved programmes for the State during the current year 2007-2008. The Committee discussed the matter and firmly decided not reimburse the amount and observed that the NEZCC should consider only the projects organized in collaboration with the Centre for reimbursement. The proposal was not agreed as the members were of the view that this might create a precedence and therefore should not be entertained and also agreed that this case should not be taken up for further discussions.

6.       Gradation of Separate Cadre for Typist

A detailed agenda note on gradation of Typist was placed in the Finance Committee to examine and consider the acceptance of the Notification No. AR 8/20/82 dated 28.11.82 whereby the 4 tier of Grade III, Grade II, Grade I and Senior Grade for the Typist Cadre could be adopted by the Centre. As per the cited Notification of Government of Nagaland, the cadre of Typist has been graded as Grade III, Grade II, Grade I and Senior Grade. However, Typist Senior Grade was not ‘inserted’ in the minutes of Finance Committee meeting dated 12.4.1996. The Director informed the Committee that in pursuance to the decision of the Finance Committee meeting held on 9^th November 2006, the member states were requested to furnish the details of pay scales and promotional avenues for the post of Typist as applicable in their respective states. As per the replies received from the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland, there is no separate cadre for Typists except under Govt. of Nagaland. The Commissioner & Secretary Government of Assam said that most of the States have LDC-cum-Typist and no separate cadre for typist. The Commissioner & Secretary Government of Nagaland said that even though the State has separate cadre by introducing Computer the post is now being phased out. In order to give higher grades on the basis of seniority and efficiency speed tests are conducted by the NPSC in the State. The Committee after thorough discussion suggested that since the NEZCC follows the Rules & Regulations of the host State, Nagaland, the Centre should request NPSC to conduct a speed test for typists of the NEZCC and on the basis of their efficiency, the case may be submitted to the Committee for consideration. It was also pointed out that the case should not treated as “Upgradation” but should be a “Promotion” opportunity resting solely on Efficiency cum Seniority rather than on Seniority alone. It was also pointed out that the Centre should take up this case as an amendment to the Service Rules adopted in the last Executive Board/Governing Body rather than a case of upgradation. The Centre was directed to first take up the case with NPSC or P & AR and then put up the cases as per the results of efficiency tests to the Committee with a request for Revision & Amendment of the Service Rules.

7        EPF Contribution

The Director, NEZCC informed the Committee that the combined meeting of the Executive Board and Governing Body held on 10^th November 2006 while considering the Revised Service Rules observed that the financial implications on contribution to the EPF on the basis of the actual pay etc. should be worked out by a Committee for consideration of Rule 13. Most of the employees of the Centre are currently drawing monthly pay more than Rs.6500/- and willing to contribute to the PF on the basis of their actual pay as proposed in the Revised Service Rules. If the NEZCC (employer) agrees to contribute to the EPF beyond the salary ceiling of monthly pay of Rs.6500/- the contribution payable by the employer shall be equal to the contribution payable by the employee and an additional fund of Rs.40,000/- (on the basis of pay for March 2007) per month will be required. Anticipated additional expenditure will be 12% payable to salary expenditure which amounts to Rs.4,80,000/- for the current financial year and thereafter as per the amount payable keeping in mind increments/revision of pay etc. The Committee after thorough discussion decided to engage an expert who has knowledge in EPF rules to verify and review the proposal. The Committee also decided to pay a remuneration of Rs.5000/- to the expert for the work and the Commissioner & Secretary Government of Assam would be entrusted to identify and recommend an expert from Guwahati for the same.

8.       Payment of Honorarium to Officers and Staff for Management of various Festivals/National Events

A proposal was submitted in the Finance Committee for consideration of payment of honorarium to Officers and Staff who participate in Republic Day and Octave Programmes/National Events in the line of the payment made by other Zone Cultural Centres. The Committee after thorough discussion approved for payment of honorarium to Officers and Staff who participate in Republic Day and Octave Programmes/National Events as follows:

1.         Officers who draw basic pay of Rs.16,400  and above              = Rs.4,000/-

2.         Officers who draw basic pay of Rs .8,000/- to Rs.16,399/-        = Rs.3,500/-

3.         Officers who draw basic pay of Rs. 6,500/- to Rs.  7,999/-        = Rs.3,250/-

4.         Officers who draw basic pay of Rs. 6,500/- & below                  = Rs.3,000/-

9.       Rates for Artistes (Western Music/Choral Groups/Eminent Solo Artistes

            The Director, NEZCC informed that on various occasions, Western Music groups/Bands, Choral groups and Eminent Solo Artistes are required to be invited or sponsored to perform at various Cultural programmes organized by NEZCC or in other NEZCC sponsored programmes. However, the Centre was finding it difficult to pay remuneration to such category of Artistes/Groups, as there are no fixed norms under NEZCC as well as the ZCC. Since Western music/Fusion music/Choral singing is popular in most of the member states of the NEZCC, the Committee after discussion decided to fix the following norms for this category of Artistes/Groups as below:

1.	Western Music Groups/Bands	Rs.5,000/-per performance per day and Rs.2,000/-for every successive performing day
2.	Choral Group – 15 to 20 Artistes                              above 20 Artistes	Rs.10,000/- Rs.15,000/- per performance per day and Rs.5,000/- for every successive  performing day
3.	Eminent Solo Artistes	The Director NEZCC shall pay negotiated fee under this category

10.     Auditors’ Reports and Accounts 2006 – 2007

The Committee after thorough discussion approved the Auditors’ Reports and Accounts 2006 – 2007. The committee expressed its satisfaction on preparation of the Annual Accounts and placing before the Committee in time.

The Committee also congratulated the Director, NEZCC for printing the Annual Reports along with AG Certificate for the period from 1995 – 96 to 1999 – 2000 both in Hindi and English for the first time and submitting the same to the Ministry of Culture Government of India.

             The meeting ended with a vote thanks to the Chair.

                                                           

                                                           Sd-/ Chairman, Finance Committee

                                                                          NEZCC, Dimapur