Meghalaya has become the first state in India to operationalise a law that makes social audit of government programmes and schemes a part of government practice.
The Meghalaya Community Participation and Public Services Social Audit Act, 2017’ was launched by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma in Shillong
Law on social audit will allow citizens' participation in the planning of development, selection of beneficiaries, concurrent monitoring of programmes, redress of grievances and audit of works, services and programmes on an annual basis.
Law on social audit will allow citizens' participation in the planning of development, selection of beneficiaries, concurrent monitoring of programmes, redress of grievances and audit of works, services and programmes on an annual basis.
Background
The first of its kind social audit law in country was passed by Meghalaya state assembly in April 2017 and was followed by pilot social audits for 26 schemes in 18 villages of the northeastern state.
Importance
With the help of this law, implementation of the schemes would be easier and people will get to know how much money will be spent. The information gap between officers and people will be filled as common people will be the part of the system. This law would help to end the government officials' red tapist behaviour. The legislation provides a legal framework for allowing citizens’ participation in the planning of development, selection of beneficiaries, concurrent monitoring of programmes, redress of grievances, and audit of works, services, and programmes on an annual basis. The real benefit of this process is “quick corrective action”
Implementation
A social audit facilitator will be appointed to conduct the audit directly with the people. He will present findings to the Gram Sabha, who will add inputs and the result will finally go to the auditors.
