A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) named “Assam Society for Comprehensive Financial Management System (AS-CFMS)” was set up after obtaining approval from the Hon’ble Cabinet for implementing and managing Public Financial Management Reforms, including IT-related projects, in the Finance Department and other revenue departments, including externally aided projects. 

Two tier administrative structure —

• Governing Body (GB) chaired by the Honourable Chief Minister, and 
• Executive Committee (EC) chaired by the Chief Secretary 

Project Director and an Additional Project Director leads the Project Management Unit set-up comprising a balanced mix of experienced domain experts and young executives   

ASPIRe(Assam Public Finance Institutional Reforms): 

The Government of Assam reached out to the World Bank to take advantage of the signifi cant global and local analytical knowledge of PFM reform experience of the Bank which could be a key value addition for the GoA’s reform priorities. The World Bank’s experience in supporting PFM reform projects through IT interventions, which include design, development, and implementation of FMIS and revenue systems across the world, can contribute to effective advice, choice of solutions, and implementation. These international experiences and cross learnings from other states within India will provide the state appropriate technology solutions, procurement support for FMIS and revenue IT solutions, and sequencing/phasing of implementation to facilitate successful implementation while mitigating implementation and change management risks. 

In this background, the idea of the ASPIRe Project was conceive and subsequently, the project preparation and appraisal stages were completed and a Project Appraisal Document was placed before the board of directors of the World Bank. The board approved this project in the month of June and thereafter the Indian Government signed the loan agreement with the World Bank for this $44 Million project.   

Objectives: 

1. Improvement in predictability and transparency in budget execution 
2. Efficiency in tax administration in Assam 

The project has been ceremonially launched on 9th October, 2017 by Hon’ble Chief Minister in presence of Sr Officers of Government of Assam, RBI & AG as well as guests from media.   

The project consists of three components — 

Component 1: Strengthening Public Finance Institutional Capacity will finance activities to strengthen selected PFM institutions and functions in the state. This will include institutional assessment and strengthening, capacity building, and analytical studies; 

Component 2: Strengthening Expenditure and Revenue Information Systems;’ 

Component 3: Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Coordination.   

Key Beneficiaries: 

• Finance Department, Office of Commissioner of Taxes, Department of Excise and Department of Information Technology 
• Procuring agencies across all line departments, directorates and DDOs 
• Employees & Contractors as status of payment of bills etc. will be available 
• Citizens of Assam through efficient processes and better service delivery provided (such as electronic payments and collections for services, better public procurement and enhanced tax payer services) and enhanced transparency