Civil groups demand social audit of centrally funded schemes

NEW DELHI: Social audit of centrally sponsored programmes should be made compulsory for their proper implementation, civil society groups demanded today.

Observing that mere allocation of funds is not serving the stated objectives of the programme, they said that social audit be extended to other central sponsored schemes as it is the case of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

"We discussed the issue with the Finance Minister in the light of the fact that social audit is already been carried out in MGNREGA," said Rajesh Tandon of the Society for Participatory Research in Asia.

Talking to reporters here after meeting Finance Minister Minister Pranab Mukherjee as part of the pre-Budget consultation on social sector, he said the collective view of the member representing various sector was that the planning issues should be more participatory in nature and also involve the block and district level officials.

About 22 members representing various organisations attended the meeting.

Referring to the huge workforce in the unorganised sector who are deprived of various social security benefits, he said the views expressed to the Minister was that adequate social protection should be extended to these people.

The difficulties faced by voluntary organisations after an amendment was carried out in Income Tax rules were also raised in the meeting, Tandon said.