DIRECTORATE OF SOCIAL AUDIT DIRECTORATE Government of Maharashtra DIRECTORATE OF SOCIAL AUDIT DIRECTORATE

Structure of Presentation Institutional Arrangements Social Audit Proactive steps Transparency Accountability

Institutional arrangements

Legal Framework State Act amended to align with the MGNREGA - 2005 State Employment Guarantee Council established - 2006 Unemployment Allowance Rules notified - 2013 Grievance Redressal Rules Notified - 2014

Social audit

Efforts made by the Department Training of Master Trainers at APARD Preparation of formats and training manual Pilots in 6 Blocks 36 GPs Search Committee for establishing SAU with help of TISS Cabinet approval for SAU Directorate set up SA being done in campaign mode Detail guidelines issued in local language to districts

Directorate of Social Audit Director- (from Group A Service) Joint Director/ State Coordinator (Administration and finance) District Resource Person( 01) Block Resource Person( 01) Village Resource Person ( 04) State Coordinator (Training and Capacity building, NGO Office Staff (clerk, Steno-Typist, Peons) State coordinator (Implementation and Control) State Coordinator (Evaluation and improvement)

The Beginnings… First Social Audit: Moramba Gram Panchayat January, 2012 Year No. of GPs 2012-13 36 2013-14 658 2014-15 210 Total 904

Important components of Social Audit EGS Department; GoM   Directorate of SA  Gram Panchayat and line Departments Resource persons at District and Block  Labourers/ Villagers  Village Social Audit facilitators (VSAf) Master Trainers SA Jana Sunawani Panel

Organisations supporting State in SA YASHADA-SIRD Pragati Abhiyaan Aroehan Sparsh TISS College of Social Work, Amravati College of Social Work- Dhule, Jalna Aamhi Amchya Aarogyasaathi

Detailed steps of Social Audit process Preparatory phase: includes District Level meeting; Appointment of Coordinating officials and dates for submitting document Selection of village social auditors: As per NREG Act. & Rules Block level orientation: Training of VSA: 4 days of training including field work Village level audit process: HH Survey, Site Survey, Document (Bills & Voucher's) Verification Special Gram Sabha Jan Sunawani: Panel headed by Ombudsman including members of civil society

Process of verification Verification during household survey Worksite verification Chavdi Wachan: Public reading of records Focused group discussion with labourers Verification of Material bills Study of other relevant documents

Gram Sabha Gram Sabha conducted in each Gram Panchayat. Findings read out in Gram sabha and discussed Neutrality maintained by VSAs Conflicts avoided / discussion promoted in a right direction/ issues concluded Proceedings of the gram sabha taken from Gramsevak/ VSAs records notes of the happenings, discussions, decisions taken, pending and pushed for Jan sunwani, etc. A neutral observer for the Gramsabha is appointed from non-implementing department, like Education, Health, etc

Jan Sunawani…… SA ends with Jan Sunawani Issues or complaints unresolved in Gram sabhas are read out, verified / discussed and action taken. All the implementing agencies, BDO, Tehsildar & a District level authority present and take necessary actions against complaints.

Process of Social Audit District 17 No. of Block 34 No of GP 904 No of work audited 5749 HH Surveyed 37630 Total No of Discrepancies observed 4096 Discrepancies Resolved 708

Experiment with BNVs in SA Entitlement Audit Experiment with BNVs in SA In GPs with no work in previous financial year Awareness generated in such communities with interactive methods BNVs worked as VSAFs BNVs trained about MGNREGA and the entitlements and their role in the process Conducted SA in two blocks of Wardha

Key findings of SA process Except 3 works all works exist NREGA providing gainful employment to the needy Delay in receiving documents Unawareness of processes : obtaining new job cards, demand of work, work site facilities, updating pass book or job card Pass book not with workers / Bogus workers Job cards are not yet fully distributed to all deserving families. No uniformity in book keeping of MGNREGA in all district's or blocks / it creates problems of authentication of bills and vouchers Delay in payment of wages and skilled portion Lesser wages than notified amount

Outcomes… Clarity in approach of district level functionaries for conducting Social Audit. Gradual change in the mind-set of the local bureaucracy that SA is integral tool for transparency and accountability Platform to workers to express their grievances made locally available; Dissemination of information about NREGA in villages and instilling confidence in workers to stand for his/her just rights against all odds Social Audit process - a tool to understand gap between policy and implementation.

Areas of Convergence with CAG Discussion with Principal AG Support for simplifying methodology of Audit Simplified training modules for VSAFs, CSAFs, DRP, Social Audit Experts in Good practices of Accounting and Book keeping , Analysis of Bills and vouchers Representatives of CAG to observe the process of SA and support wherever required Retired Officials from AG office to be appointed at State level

The Impact…. “This is the first time in my life of 60 years that without visiting offices, without filling forms I have received such important information within my village in my house how has this been possible?… NREGA worker Shri. Dilip Bodhere of village Palsunda, GP. Saturli, Tal. Mokhada, Dist. Thane, job card no.MH-02-007-024- 002/101, asked the team of Village Social Auditors, after the household survey… The team reassuringly said “This has been possible due to Social Audit process”

Kaam Maango Abhiyan… Kaam Mango Abhiyan in selected blocks of Nashik and Buldhana district. Dec. 2013 in Nashik & Feb. 2014 in Buldhana, Jalna & Parbhani 32000 application were received during the Abhiyan Work provided to those who demanded for it

Proactive Steps

Helpline… Toll-free number 18002676001 (IVRS based) Operational since 2nd October 2013 SMS and e-mail gateways also provided Toll free number- Information section Grievance redressal Demand can be registered Total Complaints received - 1878 Complaints resolved - 1716 Balance - 162

Gram Rojgar Diwas Organized once a month at GP level New Concept of “ A day with the labourer” – “Ek Diwas Majooraan sobat” - Converging with other welfare schemes like health, insurance, various entitlements etc. to be organised twice a year Senior functionaries to participate in Gram Rojgar Divas 19350 Gram Rojgar Divas organized this year 40682 in the previous year

Distribution of pay slips Started from 15th August 2013 Pay slip printed at village level kiosks (from NREGA Soft) Gram Rojgar Sevak distributes pay slips to workers Worker gets information That payment has been made Amount received Period

Accountability

Accountability of NREGA functionaries 15 day payment cycle clearly defined Functionary at each level made accountable Intensive training Process simplification 1 work- 2 Measurement books Pre-printed Measurment books Appropriate level of check measurement Recording attendance by Gram Rojgar Sevak 2 days Measurement including check measurement by Technical officer 6 days Scrutiny at block level & approval by Program Officer Data entry & FTO generation Payment by Bank/post office 3 days

Delay in wages compensation State has issued guidelines regarding delay compensation 0.05% per day of delay Payment of Rs. 6.75 crore made towards delay compensation in FY 2013-14 Presently state bearing cost. Awareness camps and trainings being conducted. Reasons for delay being analysed. Recovery will be done from concerned NREGA functionary in future.

SQM… 40 SQMs appointed for all districts from 2013 Verify 10 works in each district every month Total 5328 works verified till date 3926 works (74%) Satisfactory 397 (7.4%) Average 1105 (19%) Needs improvement

Websites…… www.mahaegs.maharashtra.gov.in gives detailed information of the scheme, GR, Circulars etc www.nregalb.org to facilitate LB planning process www.nandedsetu.in/narega/index.php for monitoring wells

Trainings Trainings at State, District, Block Through Commissioner NREGA Trainings conducted till date Sr. No. Category No. of Batches No. of Participants 1 As per IEC Plan 36 2825 2 GRS Capacity Building 142 20,713 3 Training on Operational Guidelines 34 2471 4 IPPE Master Trainers 320 Total 215 26329

Way Ahead… Emphasise on SA Improve Gram Rozgaar Diwas and Demand process ATR follow up SA in campaign mode in 2000 GP’s in 2015-16 Divisional SA Experts identified to be appointed soon Advertisement for appointing Director/ Joint Director/ DRPs in 15 days

Photo Gallery

Thank You……