The Nagaland State Social Audit Agency’s (NSSAA), Social Audit Unit conducted the 3rd Phase Social Audit District Level Public Hearing under MGNREGS for Longleng district for the fiscal year 2023-24. DIPR said in a report that the event, held at the VDB & VCC Association Conference Hall, Longleng on 23rd November 2023, demonstrated the commitment to transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
Imlirenla Sanglir, Assistant Director of NSSAA, Social Audit Unit, emphasized the significance of reviewing social audit findings and called for corrective measures from implementing agencies and program functionaries.
District Resource Person Toshimanen Jamir presented the audit findings, addressing various issues such as discrepancies between records in the Management Information System (MIS) and RD Block Office, Job Card-related discrepancies, non-maintenance of detailed Transparency Boards for executed projects, poor upkeep of seven Registers, and the non-conduct of Rozgar Diwas.
Dr. Samuel Akho Konyak P, NCS, EAC Longleng Hq and in charge, Yongnyah Circle, representing District Administration, highlighted the need for the Rural Development Department to provide explanations to NSSAA SAU due to mismatches in findings across various records.
The audit covered RD Blocks Longleng and Sakshi, scrutinized during FY 2021-22. Thirteen villages underwent the audit, including Yongam, Yongshei, Shamshanching, Yongnyah, Tangha, Sanglu (Longleng Block), and Pongo, Hongnyu, Yongphang, Auching, Sakshi, Yimchong, Yangching (Sakshi Block).
In the verification process, an amount of Rs 13,356 (63 man-days @ Rs. 212/-) was recovered against payments made under the category of Deceased Job Cards. The recovered amount was handed over to DPC/PD, DRDA Longleng, for onward deposit to the State Employment Guarantee Fund (SEGF) following MoRD guidelines.
The Public Hearing saw active participation from BDOs, DRDA officials, MGNREGA beneficiaries, village functionaries, VLOs, and media personnel.
The function was chaired by Dape Phom, BAPO, and DRDA Longleng.
The resolutions adopted were to
– update Job Cards with all beneficiaries’ details
– promptly enter all necessary details in entries, including thumb impressions, and issue dates, and segregate year-wise entries
– maintain muster rolls at worksites
– ensure the maintenance of seven Registers at the GP level
– conduct Rozgar Diwas on a regular basis
– maintain detailed Transparency Boards for all executed projects
– delete or replace Job Cards belonging to the deceased category after due verification
– maintain wall writings for transparency
– initiate capacity-building measures for village functionaries on proper book keeping and Submit Action-taken Reports (ATRs) within 15 days, effective 24th November 2023.
