2009年-世界发展银行全球_Activating_Social_Audits_in_Orissa_18页_843kb

Summary of "Activating Social Audits in Orissa"

Core Content

This document outlines the initiative to activate social audits under the Orissa Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (OREGS), as part of the broader National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) framework. It highlights the importance of social audits in promoting transparency, accountability, and community participation in the implementation of rural development programs.

Main Objectives

• To explore a sustainable model for social audit in Orissa.
• To shift the focus of social auditing from merely exposing malpractice to improving implementation.
• To institutionalize community-driven accountability and transparency at the local level.

Key Views and Findings

Importance of Social Audit in NREGA

• Social audit is a participatory process that enhances community engagement in planning, monitoring, and evaluation.
• It supports the rights-based development approach by empowering communities to monitor and demand accountability.
• The NREGA provides for the formation of Social Accountability Committees (SACs) and Vigilance and Monitoring Committees (VMCs) to ensure transparency.

Challenges in Earlier Approaches

• Social audits were often driven by NGOs and civil society, leading to a lack of community ownership.
• There was a lack of awareness and participation among villagers, especially in marginalized groups.
• Information was not readily available, and local governance structures were not fully aligned with the audit process.
• The post-implementation audit approach was ineffective and led to resistance from local actors.

Proposed Approach

• A new, community-led and process-driven model was developed to enhance the social audit mechanism.
• The model emphasizes the formation of SACs and VMCs, with clear roles and responsibilities.
• A training of trainers (TOT) approach was used to build capacity among local facilitators.
• A technical manual was developed to guide the monitoring and evaluation of community construction works.

Key Information

Social Audit Committee (SAC)

• SACs are formed at the Gram Panchayat (GP) level with representatives from diverse stakeholder groups.
• SACs are responsible for:
  • Collecting and disseminating information.
  • Facilitating transparency and public accountability.
  • Engaging with implementing agencies and resolving conflicts.
  • Conducting public hearings and presenting audit findings.

Vigilance and Monitoring Committees (VMCs)

• VMCs are tasked with validating project estimates and ensuring quality standards.
• In the absence of active VMCs, the SACs played a vital role in forming new ones.
• VMCs are essential for identifying and addressing issues in project implementation.

Implementation Process

• The project was piloted in six Gram Panchayats across three districts: Koraput, Keonjhar, and Sundergarh.
• The social audit process was divided into three stages: Pre-Audit, Social Audit, and Post-Audit.
• A baseline survey was conducted to understand the current situation and identify key issues.
• Awareness campaigns were developed to educate the community on their rights and the audit process.
• The Right to Information (RTI) Act was used as a tool to ensure access to project-related information.

Conclusion

• The initiative aimed to institutionalize social audit as a tool for accountability and transparency.
• It emphasized the need for collaboration between the government and civil society.
• The project demonstrated the potential of a community-led approach to improve the implementation of OREGS and address systemic issues.
• The success of the initiative depended on building trust, ensuring community participation, and strengthening local governance structures.

References

• The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) 2005.
• The Right to Information Act (RTI) 2005.
• The Orissa Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (OREGS) implemented by the Government of Orissa in 2006.
• The Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD) and its role in the project.
• The World Bank's support through the South Asia Procurement Hub.