Shillong, July 7: The Meghalaya Society for Social Audit and Transparency (MSSAT) will commence the first round of the Social Audit for the Financial Year 2026-27 across the state from July 8, with the objective of strengthening transparency, accountability and effective implementation of government welfare schemes.
According to MSSAT, the annual exercise is aimed at ensuring that government schemes reach their intended beneficiaries and that public funds are utilised efficiently.
The Social Audit process began with departmental meetings and the preparation of the social audit calendar. It will include village-level social audits, door-to-door verification, site inspections, institutional verification, focus group discussions and Social Audit Gram Sabhas. The exercise will culminate in block-level Social Audit Public Hearings, where audit findings and issues will be presented before concerned officials for necessary action.
MSSAT said the observations and recommendations emerging from the public hearings will be compiled into Action Taken Reports (ATRs), which will be submitted to the Society. Based on these reports, MSSAT will prepare and submit its Annual Social Audit Report to the Government.
The first round of the Social Audit will cover 12 government schemes, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Sarva Shiksha Scheme (SSS), Public Distribution System (PDS), PM Poshan, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) WDC 2.0, Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), Special Livestock Production Programme (Piggery and Poultry), Blue Revolution, Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCD-NER) and Rainfed Area Development (RAD).
MSSAT said social audits play a vital role in promoting transparency and accountability by involving local communities, beneficiaries and stakeholders in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of welfare programmes. The process helps identify gaps in implementation, encourages corrective action and strengthens public trust in government initiatives.
The Society appealed to beneficiaries, members of the public and implementing agencies to actively participate in the Social Audit process to ensure its successful implementation across the state.
For further information and updates on the Social Audit programme, MSSAT has advised the public to visit its official website.
