Govt Mulls Directorate for Social Audit Under CM

KOCHI: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said that pre-financial and social    auditing will be carried out for projects worth more than `250 crore. In an interaction with rights activist Aruna Roy in Kochi, the Chief  Minister said the government would consider setting up a directorate for  social audit directly under the Chief Minister. Chandy met Aruna Roy at the Cochin International Airport on Monday. Nikhil Dey of the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI) and Abey George of the MGNREGS mission were along with her. Aruna Roy appreciated the efforts taken by the state government in ensuring   transparency by introducing a 24-hour call centre and the web casting. She said that while Lokpal tries to address major issues of corruption,  social auditing would help in addressing issues at the grassroot-level. The Chief Minister also held discussions with Aruna Roy on the possibilities and other aspects of setting up Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendras as facilitation centres in the block-level for the rural public. This will be a non-bureaucratic body to deal with various issues.  The Chief Minister said that apart from corruption, delay in payment was a    major issue associated with the MGNREGS. He said the state government had  already brought this to the attention of the Union Government.