Concept of Social audit for government schemes

Social accountability in India

written by Zaif khan

One of the most relevant subject for the country is governance, from ancient period the attempts to explore contemporary ways of governance is made by powerful managers of the country. This effort of defining and redefining the relation of ruler and ruled has consistently faced the issue of accountability for the accurately functioning of the policies. As democracy is most widely acceptable delegative the answerable public officials is also one of the important aspect of it.

Contrary to past scenario, current times has information technology to make people's participation in governance not limited to the elections. Approach to good governance initiative in administrative and democratic system is by introducing social accountability.      

Public vigilance drive conducted in a campaign mode to measure accountability of government projects, laws and policies by civil society organizations (CSOs) is officially known as "Social Audit"  like many states governments had introduced social of central schemes like MANREGA, mid-day meal (MMS), scholarship schemes etc. Concept of social audit in west is different from India as it mechanized to raise accountability from public servants.     

Social audit came to light in India after 1979 when Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO) in implemented it and Majdoor Kisan Sakti Sangathan, Rajasthan demanded it in 1990. It also got recognized in 73rd and 74th contitutional amendment. Then, in 2008  center for social initiative and management (CSIM) started promoting it and in 2014 it is made mandatory under National rural livelihood mission (NRLM) by government of India under provision of social audit in Schedule -1 .  

Principles of social audit 

• Public participation & multi- perspective approach - Its an integrated way to involve various stakeholders and individuals in the process by understand their ideas and perspective for the process of social change.
• Regular & recurring activity - the planned, scheduled and regularly undertaken social audit are found to be yielding objective as reported in past cases. Both the implementers and beneficiaries accountability get better in such cases.   
• Information sharing - Various registers need to be maintained by social audit teams as it works with different departments for transparency and accountability.

Need for social audit

1. At community level needs

• Gains public trust and confidence in the institutions
• Ensures participation and involvement of various sections of the society.
• Provides a forum for people to understand their rights over benefits of Government, ULBs & CSOs
• Avert corruption and prevents misuse of taxpayers fund.
• Creates sustainable capacities among people to carry socail audit process in future.

      2. At organizational level (ULB)

• Supporting in program implementation and planning.
• Functioning as a tool to assess the performance of social development programme in a cost effective way.  
• Increases the organizational credibility.
• Better the process of programme implementation.

Benefits of social audit

• Correctly assess the government activity impact for the social well being of citizens.
• Measures the social cost and accrued result from any implementation programme. 
• Increases accountability and enhances the allocation of resources
• Monitors the ethical and social impact & performance of the development policy by revisiting the core objectives and values.
• Gives corrective direction and helps in redefining strategies.
• Devising better methodology for revising public policy.

Operational Structure

Social audit successful implementation can be achieved by putting the required manpower in place. From top management to grassroot workers the institutional arrangements needs to be framed. For instance:

1. Core National Advisory Committee - To review progress of social audit , track grievance redressal systems, put up recommendations for strengthening outcomes of programme implementation including important revisions and guidelines.
2. State Level Advisory Committee - The State-level Advisory should meet every month to identify areas for auditing in the next month, present the grievances and related issues, track action taken report by the concerned area level authority.
3. City level Cell Committee - Identify settlements for auditing. At least 40% of the sanctioned DPR in the government projects should be audited.
4. Community Social Auditors - required at neighborhood or settlement level.