Shillong, Jul 7: The Meghalaya Society for Social Audit and Transparency (MSSAT) is set to commence the social audit for the financial year 2026-27 beginning July 8.
The social audit is carried out with an aim to ensure transparency, accountability, and effectiveness in the implementation of various government schemes across the state.
The schemes to be covered under the social audit are Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Sarva Shiksha Scheme (SSS), Public Distribution Scheme (PDS), Poshan Abhiyan Shakti Nirman (PM Poshan), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) WDC 2.0, Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), Special Livestock Production Programme (Piggery and Poultry), Blue Revolution, Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCD-NER) and Rainfed Area Development (RAD).
A press release from the society informed that the social audit involves multiple steps that began with a departmental meeting to create a social audit calendar. Following this, village-level audits, door-to-door verifications, and site verifications will be conducted. These actions are complemented by focus group discussions and social audit gram sabhas, ultimately culminating in public hearings at the block level. Here, identified issues and findings are officially reported, which prompts necessary actions from the relevant officials.
These actions will then be documented in action taken reports (ATR) submitted to MSSAT, which will then be submitted to the government.
The active participation of all stakeholders—beneficiaries, the general public, and implementing agencies—is crucial for the success of the social audit, the statement said.
