The mechanism of social audit can bring transparency and accountability to local bodies, Shashi Kant Sharma, Comptroller and Auditor General of India said on Monday.
Sharma said that local bodies like Panchayati Raj Institutions are handling an ever increasing flow of funds for social development and welfare schemes. “But the accountability and transparency mechanism in the local bodies has not been commensurate with the increasing responsibilities,” he said at a conference organised by the CAG to discuss social audit.
According to the data shared by the Government’s auditor, Union and State Government spent ₹ 17 lakh crore for socio-economic development in 2013-14. This is an average of ₹ 2,656 crore as development expenditure per district.
Sharma said that this money is being executed through the local bodies such as Panchayat Raj institutions and Urban Local Bodies.
The CAG also urged various state auditors to adopt a positive outlook towards social audits and highlighted that civil society organisations can help the Government auditors.
“We should acknowledge them as partners in enhancing transparency and accountability of implementing agencies and in sense that our goals are ultimately the same,” said Sharma.