The Hindu 21.10.2010
Social audit for government schemes planned
Rajesh B. Nair
Planning and Research Department will identify NGOs
for the task
PUDUCHERRY: A meeting of the secretaries and heads of departments chaired by Chief Secretary R. Chandramohan convened recently decided to engage experienced and reputable non-governmental organisations to conduct social audit of government programmes and schemes.
The Planning and Research Department will be given the task to identify the NGOs.
The meeting was convened to discuss the implementation of the accepted recommendations in the 12 {+t} {+h} report of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission.
The Union government had accepted 41 out of 50 recommendations of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission, Special Secretary to Government G. Theva Neethi Dhas told The Hindu.
The minutes of the meeting had been posted on the government website, www.pon.nic.in.
The meeting listed out eight points, including the decision to involve NGOs to conduct social audit. Other points included the view to explore feasibility of issuance of licence through outsourcing by the Transport Department.
All major departments such as Revenue, Commercial Taxes, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Police, Transport, Public Works, Electricity, Social Welfare, Registration, Local Administration, Town and Country Planning Departments and Municipalities should arrange for open house discussions every month with general public, stakeholders and NGOs.
The meeting also emphasised the need to update citizen charters of all government departments in consonance with the recommendations and reviewed by a team of experts.
A team of experts such as from universities had to be identified by the Administrative Reforms Wing.
