Social Audit Of MGNREGS To Be Done Twice A Year: Chief Secy

Bhubaneswar: The first governing body meeting of Odisha Society for Social Audit Accountability and Transparency (OSSAAT) was held at the State Secretariat conference hall here under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi on Tuesday.

Principal Secretary Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh outlined the objectives and functions of the society.

Carrying forward the government’s commitment of transparency and accountability, the social audit of developmental programmes have been institutionalised and expanded in shape of OSSAAT.

Reviewing the new structure, mandate and activities of the Society, the Chief Secretary directed different departments to get their social audit done through OSSAAT.

It was decided in the meeting that social audit of MGNREGS would be done twice a year.

Padhi further directed to conduct social audit of other programmes like PMGSY, rural housing, livelihood mission, construction workers welfare fund etc in accordance with the prescribed time period.

It was also decided that OSSAAT would be vested with sufficient autonomy and would operate independently of general government system for making the social audit meaningful and effective.

“The main objective of OSSAAT is to  create enabling environment for the Gram Sabha and Palli Sabha to conduct impartial and effective social audits for the development schemes and programmes in its territory,” said Singh.

The Governing Body of OSSAAT has been formed and will compromise members from various government departments, NGOs, academicians and audit experts.

The Executive Committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water.

Additional Chief Secretary Forest and Environment Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, Principal Secretary, Social Security and Empowerment of Person with Disability, Nitin Chandra, Principal Secretary, Rural Development, Dr Mona Sharma, Principal Secretary, Labour and ESI,  Anu Garg along with other members of the society participated in the deliberation.

Special Projects Director S N Girish presented the updates and issues for discussion.