SOCIAL AUDIT IS A TOOL WHICH CAN BE USED FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE PROGRAMMES AND SCHEMES OF MGNREGSA

Democracy of our country is working for the welfare of people of society and circle/community , where in since independence, many schemes have been formulated and thousands of crores have been spent and still continuing to be spent for the rural development and poverty alleviation in the country. Yet corruption and dilution remain major blocks in effective delivery of the programmes. Only a percentage of the intended benefits reach the targetted poor. Often the poor are not even aware of the objectives of the programmes. In order that a change can be brought in the present state of affairs it is essential that there is a greater participation of the primary stake holders in the various stages of the decision making and implementation of the programme. The poor people and also educated youth and other active members of the village community must be fully aware of the Government schemes and programmes meant for their progress. There must be growing awareness of their rights and entitlements. With information and knowledge they must learn to question rationally. They must watch out for the loopholes in the execution of programmes and schemes, meant for them and bring it to the notice of the administrative machinery and apply pressure for initiation of corrective measures. Social audit is a tool which can be used effectively for achieving the above objective of increased transparency and accountability and public participation, in the implementation of a programme or a scheme. While social audit as a concept and a process is much more comprehensive and complex it is thought best for a greater participation and understanding that the social audit process as a means of gaining knowledge and information on the various aspects of the programmes and rights and entitlements of the poor people and using the same for questioning, demanding and ultimately ensuring greater transparency and accountability in government programmes must at first be taken forward in a simple way. Under the right to information Act, 2005 we have a right to access any information that is under the control of the government machinery and another tool at our disposal for getting such information and take relevant record for all information related to governance and charter of public accountability:-- Er Fateh chand Guleria, Director, RTI welfare Association registered number HPCD, 3552 , Bilaspur Himachal Pradesh phone number 9459334377