The State-Level Social Justice Assembly, organised by the Meghalaya Society for Social Audit and Transparency (MSSAT) in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, was held on August 30 at the KJP Assembly Conference Hall in Shillong.
The event brought together a wide array of government officials, NGO representatives, and village leaders to discuss the findings of the social audit of the different schemes under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The State-Level Assembly presided over by Secretary of the Social Welfare Department Israel W. Ingty was organised after the conclusion of Social Justice Assemblies in the targeted districts. Its purpose is to review the coverage, issues, and actions taken in response to the findings from the social audits.
The assembly aimed at assessing the extent of coverage, stakeholder response, support, and participation, while also analysing the identified social audit points. Additionally, the assembly will review the action taken reports, supported by evidence, and recommend corrective or suggestive actions to address any issues and guide future course corrections.
Director of the Social Welfare Department Camelia Doreen Lyngwa delivered the formal welcome address, setting the tone for a day of collaborative dialogue. In her opening remarks, Lyngwa emphasised the importance of the Assembly in addressing social justice concerns and ensuring the success of ongoing programmes in the State.
A key highlight of the assembly was the address by the Director of the Meghalaya Society for Social Audit and Transparency (MSSAT), who spoke about the social audits of various schemes and programmes implemented by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The Social Justice Cell of MSSAT then presented a detailed report on the status and coverage of social audits in Meghalaya, based on the targets set by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The assembly further reviewed the findings of social audits conducted between September 19 and October 6, 2023. The audits covered the Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCA) program run by the New Hope De-Addiction Centre under the KJPA, as well as the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PM-AJAY) scheme implemented in Kalibari and Kalatek villages.
These projects, facilitated by the Community and Rural Development (C&RD) Department, were carried out with the support of various stakeholders, including representatives from departments such as Social Welfare, Animal Husbandry, Public Works, Fishery, Food Civil Supplies, Public Health Engineering, Health, and Education.
The assembly engaged in an open discussion on the audit findings, with all stakeholders contributing to the deliberations. Decisions were jointly made by the Social Welfare Department, representatives from other line departments, and NGOs receiving grants-in-aid from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The event concluded with a closing remark from the Joint Director of the Social Welfare Department, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by the Joint Director of MSSAT, marking the end of a productive session focused on advancing social justice in Meghalaya.
