National Resource Center for Social Audit (NRCSA)
NRCSA-DoSJE is a unit initially located at the Center for Social Audit, NIRDPR, Hyderabad, established in June 2022, to coordinate the social audits of DoSJE schemes, provide training, and monitor the progress of the audits. NRCSA-DoSJE operated with the mandate to advance the agenda set by the Ministry by helping SAUs and states to translate the social accountability policy into practice. NRCSA-DoSJE has now been relocated to NISD in New Delhi as of 27/01/2023 and serves as a technical resource agency for SAUs and states on behalf of the Ministry to improve program delivery through social audits.
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has decided to conduct social audits of all its schemes to enhance transparency and accountability in the implementation of its programs. The social audit scheme is detailed under the scheme titled 'Information, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Social Audit' (I-MESA). The objectives outlined below are elaborated to consider various stages from the conception to the conclusion of the social audit exercise.
Objectives of NRCSA-DoSJE:
- To act as a bridge between DoSJE and State Social audit units (established in each state by Rural Development Department, initially for MGNREGA but now engaged in social audit of other schemes as well, with experience and expertise) to ensure effective conduct of social audits.
- To equip Social Justice Cells of SAUs to take up social audits of DoSJE schemes by building the capacities of their resource persons who facilitate social audits.
- To monitor the social audits taken up by the SAUs and handhold them.
- To provide technical assistance and implementation support to carry out qualitative and effective social audits of DoSJE schemes.
- To facilitate the support of National professionals and CSOs to States/SAUs to fulfill the mandatory provisions of transparency and accountability initiatives.
