National Workshop on Social Audit of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGs)

The Union Ministry of Rural Development is organizing a National workshop on Social Audit of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGs) at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 19th July 2011. It was earlier scheduled to be held in Pune on 18th July. The day long workshop is aimed at sharing roadmap for implementation of the Audit of rules under MGNREGA by the States and seek clarifications from the Ministry. It will also provide a platform to share best practices and impact studies on the implementation of MGNREGs with the States. Union Minister of Rural Development Shri Jairam Ramesh will preside over the function. Representatives from State Governments and Union Territories have been invited to attend the workshop along with the nodal officer of the departments coordinating the action to be taken for implementing the social audit rules of MGNREGA.

Rural Development Ministry has Under Section 24 (I) of the Mahatma Gandhi NREG Act in consultation with the Comptroller & Auditor General of India, notified in the Gazette on 30th June 2011, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Audit of Scheme Rules, 2011. Simultaneously, the notification deleting Para 13 (b) of Schedule I to the Act has also been issued on 30th June, 2011.

Laying down the rules for Social Audit of MGNREGA is a major step in making social audit the principal instrument for transparency and accountability in its implementation. It is meant to put in place an independent institutional mechanism to increase the awareness of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA workers about their rights and entitlement under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS. It aims to provide a platform for the rural poor to express their opinion about the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi NREGS and thus, encourage public participation in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi NREGS leading to strengthening of the program.