Social auditing of employment guarantee schemes

Organisation leader complains threat by taluk panchayat official

A private organisation which has conducted social auditing of employment guarantee schemes as a pilot project under four grama panchayats in Hassan district would present the report on April 13 before the residents of the villages in the presence of the authorities concerned.

The pilot project has been implemented in select grama panchayats in two taluks in the state — one in Hassan taluk and the other at Ranebennur taluk, Haveri district.

While the government itself has taken up the auditing in Ranebennur as there were reports of good implementation, Astra (Association for Social Transparency Rights and Action) has been entrusted with the task in Hassan as there were too many complaints in the taluk.

Astra had been given six days for auditing.

On the first day taluk level resource persons trained GP level resource persons. The GP resource persons visited all households under their limits — armed with a questionnaire — and collected data.

The resource persons visited the actual sites of the execution of the schemes and inspected the quality of works and facilities provided to the beneficiaries on day three and four.

The team compiled a report on the basis of data and inspection report on the fifth day.

The report would be presented on the sixth day at Melagodu, Madenuru, Jagaravalli and Shanthigrama GPs.

Zilla panchayat officials, GP officials and those who were responsible for execution of the works would be present when the reports are presented.

If fraud and anomalies come out of the reports, it would be handed over to the ombudsman.

Meanwhile, a leader of an organisation has complained with the Lokayukta that the executive officer of the taluk panchayat had threatened him in connection with his statement given to Astra.

It is also reported that TP officials, leaders of some caste organisations and politicians have threatened members of Astra against presenting factual reports.