Question : SOCIAL AUDIT IN PRIS

(a) whether there is a provision of social audit to check the financial irregularities reported in the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs);  

(b) if so, the details thereof;  

(c) whether the incidence of irregularities in PRIs have come down due to the provision of social audit;  

(d) if so, the details thereof; and  

(e) if not, the reasons therefor?   

MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI V. KISHORE CHANDRA DEO)

   (a)&(b): The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) programme which are the major programmes directly implemented by the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) recommend for social audit by States. Section 17(2) of MGNREGA provides that the Gram Sabha shall conduct regular social audit of all the projects under the scheme taken up within the Gram Panchayat. It is an ongoing process and is to be held at least once in every six months.

(c) to (e): The social audit mechanism has enhanced awareness about the programmes among the people resulting in increased transparency and accountability. No specific study/ analysis on the extent to which social audit has curbed incidences of irregularities in PRIs has been done so far.