Sensitization programme on social audit held at DC Conference Hall, Hapoli

A CORRESPONDENT

ZIRO: Deputy Commissioner Somcha Lowang inaugurated the two-day district-level sensitization programme on social audit for the Rural Department and Panchayati Raj functionaries, PRI members of Lower Subansiri district at DC Conference Hall, Hapoli here on Friday.

Addressing the gathering, the DC said that the Social Audits of all the programmes implemented at the grassroots levels by the Central government provides a feedback mechanism from the beneficiaries through site inspections and interactions with the beneficiaries for adopting corrective measures.

"This creates a sense of ownership amongst the villagers for all the development activities that take place in their area," she added.

While exhorting all the elected PRI members and officers to avail maximum benefit from the training, she added that social audits effectively ensures transparency, participation and accountability and helps in evaluating the performance of the schemes.

Attending the training, ZPC Likha Sangchhore requested all her colleagues to actively participate.

Course Coordinator from SIRD, S.W Bagang also highlighted the importance of social audits.

"It empowers the local community to audit a government programme, generates awareness amongst the community to take ownership of public properties and provides justice for being deprived by government functionaries," Bagang said.

Citing the manpower shortage in the SIRD department, he exhorted the PRI members to be the eyes and ears of SIRD through regular social audits.

He further requested all the participants to avail maximum benefit from the training and also actively provide feedbacks which will assist the department in improving the course materials and the training methodologies.

The training will be divided into two parts — technical sessions and field visits at nearby BDO offices.

As a part of the field exercise, mock social audit gram sabhas will be held to acclimatize the newly-elected PRI members to the social audit process.

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