ARMY COMMANDER SOUTHERN COMMAND VISITS PCDA (SOUTHERN COMMNAD)

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Lieutenant General SK Saini, AVSM, YSM VSM, GOC-in-C Southern Command, visited the office of the PCDA (SC) Pune, on Monday i.e. 11 Feb 19. He was welcomed and received by the PCDA (SC), Shri Benjamina, IDAS. IFA (SC) Shri Niranjan Kumar and other station IDAS officers were also present for the event.

The GOC-in-C during his first visit to PCDA(SC) was given an overall briefing about the functioning of PCDA(SC), and some important initiatives like Payment Portal, GeM procurement and GST etc, undertaken by the organisation. The GOC-in-C addressed the officers and staff of the PCDA(SC)Pune in which he mainly spoke on legacy and history of PCDA(SC), highlighting the fact that PCDA(SC) is existing in Pune since 1785 and has always been co-located with Headquarters Southern Command ever since the Command was raised.

The visit of the GOC-in-C was a step towards strengthening the working relations between the Headquarters Southern Command and PCDA (SC).The office of PCDA(SC) provides the Audit cover and funds along with financial advice to the officers and JCO/OR who are serving under the Southern Command of Indian Army.

The Army Commander also appreciated the mission statement of PCDA (SC) which focuses on ‘achievement in excellence’. The commonly shared goal between Army and DAD i.e. value for money was recalled by the GOC-in-C. The two major issues that Army Commander addressed with PCDA(SC) were – Reduction in pre-audit time of bills and having a robust online payment system.

Later he visited the Museum of PCDA(SC), where various antiques like a British era calculator, post box and some other antique items were displayed. A tree planting ceremony was also undertaken to take forward the message of Green Pune, followed by garlanding the bust of Mahatma Gandhi.

The Defence Accounts Department has its presence in Pune since 1864, PCDA(SC) heritage building is located at No.1 Finance Road, opposite the Pune GPO since 1835. It is one of the premier organisations of Defence Accounts Department.

The first British officer to head the PCDA (SC) was Lieutenant General Harris And Shri Rao Bhadaur Vengue Aiyar, a first Indian CDA in 1926. The department is proud of the fact that Shri Vasudev Balwant Phadke ‘father of the Indian Armed Rebellion’, worked as a clerk for about 15 years in the Defence Accounts Department at Pune. Shri Vasantrao Deshpande, well known Hindustani Classical vocalist also worked as Auditor in the department for about 28 years.

At last the vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Mahesh Khumkar, Additional Controller of Defence Accounts at PCDA (SC).