Hyderabad|India|March'2009: A two day national consultation on evolving common and uniform guidelines and provisions related to social audit under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme under Rural Development Act got underway here in city recently. The conclave is being organized jointly by PRIA, Society for Participatory Research in Asia and National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD), Hyderabad.

While divulging the information on the aims & objectives of the conclave during a press conference, Dr. Rajesh Tandon, President PRIA said that the conclave will focus upon the specific issue of ensuring accountability of NREGA schemes by thrashing out more effective mechanisms of social audit. A first of its kind effort on a national level the consultation involves participation of officials of Union Rural Development ministry, representatives of state governments, elected representatives of Panchayats and over a dozen civil society organizations exposed to audit of NREGS and similar development projects nationwide.

Tandon termed the joint initiative of PRIA and NIRD as a momentous step forward in evolving more accountability and efficacy towards national rural development schemes. Fool proof and water tight mechanisms in respect of social audit features are sought to be identified, worked upon and recommended to the union and state governments, added Tandon.

Mr. Manoj Rai Director PRIA while speaking on this occasion said that social audit helps not only to ensure the transparency and accountability of governance but it also promotes engagements of primary stake holders specially women and other marginalized sections in the decision making process at different levels. The whole process moves forward under the ownership of ordinary citizens. He emphasized the relevance of effective social audit in respect of development schemes called upon governments at union and states level to emulate the experiences of states like Andhra Pradesh where participation of civil societies in implementation of central schemes have brought out excellent results.

The uniformity and standardized audit systems are sought to be framed through the two day consultation, added Rai.
Dr Ravjeev Ranjan Prasad, Head, Centre for Equity and Social Development, NIRD, Hyderabad called for consequential follow up action upon the reports of social audits. He laid emphasis on the participation of social communities and also on the cost of the social audit and suggested that it should be factored in the program budget.

Mr. K Raju, Secretary, Rural Development, Andhra Pradesh Government, Mr N C Saxena, Ex Secretary of Planning Commission of India chaired panel discussions on the opening day. The other sessions saw representatives of civil and social organizations sharing their experiences and concerns upon social audit of NREGS. Mr. Manoj Rai, Director PRIA, Ms Karuna from SIPU, AP, Mr. Balram of NREGA Watch, Mr. Rajesh Sinha from PRIA, noted Gandhian Shri LC Jain, Prof R R Prasada of NIRD, Yashada, Pune and Nikhil Dey from MKSS shared enlightening information about performances of NREGS social audit in respective states and areas. The last day of the conference will feature Shri K Madhav Rao, former secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh along with Mr. Manoj Rai, Director PRIA chair the panel discussions.

Reachout's News Bureau
 March' 2009