Social audit held in Phek for schemes, INR 46656 recovered

DIMAPUR — The first phase of the FY 2024-25 social audit district-level public hearing for Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) (implemented during FY 2022-23) and Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) (implemented during FY 2019-20) was conducted on July 16 at the DRDA conference hall, Phek.

It was organised by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Phek, in collaboration with Nagaland State Social Audit Association (NSSAA), Social Audit Unit Nagaland, according to a press release.

For MGNREGS, a total of 24 villages were audited under the Weziho and Meluri RD blocks. These villages are: Washelo, Mokie, New Thewati, New Phor, Old Thewati, Phokhungri, Phor, Shatuza, Wuzu, Yisi, Ziphu, Sutsu, Yisisotha (Weziho), and Akhegwo, New Akhegwo, Kukhegwo, Khumiasu, Lephori, Matikhru, Molen, Kanjang, Akhen, Reguri, and Meluri (Meluri).

For PMAY-G, a total of five villages were audited: Meluri, Akhen, Molen, Matikru, and Reguri, all under the Meluri RD Block, covering 45 beneficiaries.

The programme was chaired by Vikheto Kits, project officer of the DRDA, Phek. He emphasised that the social audit is a crucial aspect of MGNREGA, designed to promote accountability and ensure transparency in the process. He urged participants to take the social audit seriously.

Imlirenla Sanglir, assistant director of NSSAA, Social Audit Unit Nagaland, delivered the introductory speech and provided a briefing on the MGNREGS and PMAY-G programmes. She urged the programme functionaries to execute the projects in accordance with the directives and guidelines set by the Centre.

EACs (PS), Phek HQ, Neithozo Theunuo and W. Balong Phom, represented the District Administration as observers. Balong noted that the involvement and participation of the community are crucial for the effective and transparent implementation of the programmes. Neithozo lauded the social audit team for conducting the audit meticulously and encouraged the programme functionaries to cooperate during the audit process.

Resource persons Vesato Rakho (DRP) and Sechumla Sangtam (DRP) presented the social audit findings, which were reviewed during the hearing.

The MGNREGS findings highlighted several issues, including discrepancies between the Management Information System (MIS) and RD Block official records, the non-conduct of Rozgar Diwas, inadequate maintenance of three-phase photographs, the absence of a detailed Citizen Information Board (CIB), poor maintenance of job cards, and issues related to the shelf of projects and job cards.

Accordingly, rectifications were provided by the concerned block development officers (BDOs) and programme functionaries. Resolutions were also adopted to implement corrective measures based on the social audit findings.

A total amount of INR 46,656 (216 mandays at INR 216 each) was recovered by the social audit team during the verification process. The recovery was against payments made under the categories of deceased individuals, job cards belonging to government-employed persons, and migration job cards.

The recovered amount was handed over to the project director of DRDA, for deposit into the State Employment Guarantee Fund (SEGF) as per the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) guidelines.