National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme - AP Social Audit Rules, 2008

{
    "id": 14929,
    "slug": "national-rural-employment-guarantee-scheme-ap-social-audit-rules-2008",
    "title": "National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme - AP Social Audit Rules, 2008",
    "short_title": "National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme - AP Social Audit Rules, 2008",
    "act_number": "Published vide Notification No. G.O.Ms.No.98, PR &",
    "act_year": 2008,
    "act_type": "STATE",
    "location": "Andhra Pradesh",
    "law_status": "unknown",
    "enactment_date": null,
    "description": "National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme - AP Social Audit Rules, 2008",
    "preamble": "",
    "section_label": "Section",
    "sections": [
        {
            "number": "1",
            "title": "1. Short title.",
            "chapter": null,
            "content": "",
            "footnote": "",
            "is_definition": false,
            "sort_order": 0
        },
        {
            "number": "2",
            "title": "2. Definitions.",
            "chapter": null,
            "content": "(a) \"Act\" means the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (Central Act No. 42 of 2005)\n(b) \"Civil Society\" means any village community, non-official public spirited group or individuals who expressed in writing an interest or choose to participate in the public vigilance process in general and Social Audit process in particular.\n(c) \"Commissioner\" is the Commissioner of Rural Development who is responsible for taking follow up action on the findings of the social audit at the State level which could not be resolved at the Mandal Public Hearings.\n(d) \"District Programme Coordinator\" means the District Collector who is responsible for facilitating the conduct of social audit in the district, for smooth conduct of Social Audit Gram Sabhas and to take follow up action on the social audit report in the Mandal Public hearings.\n(e) \"Government\" means the State Government of Andhra Pradesh.\n(f) \"Gram Sab has\" shall ordinarily mean a body consisting of persons registered in the electoral rolls relating to a village comprised within the area of Panchayat at the village level as defined in the Constitution of India or A.P. Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 and rules made there under. However, for Social Audit purposes, Gram Sabha could mean meeting of one ward, village or habitation constituting residents of part of a Panchayat.\n(g) \"Implementing Agency\" includes any department of the Central Government or State Government, Zilla Parishad, Panchayat at intermediate level, Gram Panchayat or any local authority or Government or authorized by the Central Government or the State Government-to undertake the \"implementation\" of any work taken up under the NREGS\n(h) \"Mandal\" means a community development area within a District comprising a group of Gram Panchayats.\n(i) \"Minimum wage\" in relation to any area, means the minimum wage fixed by the State Government under Section 3 of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 for agricultural labourers as applicable in that area.\n(j) \"Notification\" means notification published in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette and the word \"notified\" shall be construed accordingly.\n(k) \"Official Functionary\" shall mean all public servants either appointed by Government or elected by the public holding public office.\n(l) \"Primary Stakeholder\" means the wage seekers and their families who have worked under the EGS, and residents of the village where the EGS works are being carried out.\n(m) \"Programme Officer (PO)\" means the Mandal Parishad Development Officer\n(n) \"Resource Persons\" mean the persons Who will carry out the training and capacity building process for the Social Audit process.\n(o) \"Social Audit Gram Sabha\" is the special Gram Sabha to be held at least once every six months for this purpose. (Gram Sabha procedures regarding quorum, chair, announcement etc. would also apply to the Social Audit Gram Sabha). All words and expressions used but not defined in these rules have meaning assigned to them under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005.\n(p) \"Social Audit of a Scheme\" means auditing of a scheme by the primary stakeholders of the Scheme or with the active involvement of the primary stakeholders of the scheme. In context of National Rural employment Guarantee Scheme - AP, Social Audit includes verification of works, or facts on ground vis-a-vis official records taking into account the recorded or oral evidence, which is aided and facilitated by civil society organizations and/or Government.\n(q) \"Government Orders / Memos / Executive Instructions\" means the orders issued by the Government of Andhra Pradesh to indicate the process to be followed during a Social Audit.\n(r) \"Social Auditors\" means the members from the labourers' families or labourers themselves who shall be identified by the resource persons in an open Gram Sabha, trained in Social Audit processes and who will carry out the Social Audits and present the findings in the Social Audit Gram Sabha.\n(s) \"Society\" means the Society for Social Audit, Accountability and Transparency (SSAAT) registered under the Societies Act and which is the apex body at the State level for overseeing the process of social audits in mandals.\n(t) \"Village Organisation of SHGs\" means the federation of all SHGs at the village level facilitated by the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP)\n(u) \"Ward Sabha\" means the meeting held at the ward level defined by the A.P. Panchayat Raj Act/Rules.\n(v) \"Zone\" is a cluster of adjoining districts as defined by Government in Panchayat from time to time.",
            "footnote": "",
            "is_definition": true,
            "sort_order": 1
        },
        {
            "number": "3",
            "title": "3. The Social Audit Resource Base.",
            "chapter": null,
            "content": "(a) A social audit unit which is independent of the implementation structure shall be responsible for coordinating the social audit processes in the state.\n(b) The Rural Development Commissioner-ate shall enter into an MOU with the unit which will be headed by a Government officer and consist of senior resource persons, for conduct of social audits.\n(c) State Resource Persons (SRPs) are drawn from Civil Society Organizations who are having experience and worked on strengthening and establishing people's rights at the grass root level and who are specifically trained in the social audit processes. They will be the resource base at the State and District level for carrying out training and capacity building in social audits on an ongoing basis.\n(d) District Resource Persons (DRPs) are social activists selected from Civil Society Organizations and from the field level persons who have participated in social audits. The DRPs are allocated for conduct of social audit selecting randomly within the zone.\n(e) Village Social Auditors (VSAs) help the DRPs in conduct of the social audit by mobilizing the primary stake holders for participating in the social audit. They shall not conduct any audit in their native village and shall be allotted for social audit on a random basis.\n(f) Identification of various Social Auditors and their training shall be done as per the Government Orders, Memos and Executive Instructions issued by the State Government from time to time.",
            "footnote": "",
            "is_definition": false,
            "sort_order": 2
        },
        {
            "number": "4",
            "title": "4. Periodicity of social audit.",
            "chapter": null,
            "content": "(b) The schedule for conduct of social audits for each month will be decided at the beginning of every year by the Society in consultation with the district administration.\n(c) Social audit in a mandal shall be taken up in all the villages simultaneously.",
            "footnote": "",
            "is_definition": false,
            "sort_order": 3
        },
        {
            "number": "5",
            "title": "5. Filing of Application for relevant official records.",
            "chapter": null,
            "content": "(a) The records called include the following details: Shelf of Works, GP resolutions, Technical Estimation and Sanction (work wise), Administrative Sanction, Work commencement order, Muster Rolls, Pay orders, Measurement sheets, Work done report, Material payment vouchers and bills, Consolidated Muster roll, and the Final report.\n(b) The Programme Officer shall provide the required information within 7 days of the receipt of the application without fail.\n(c) Failure to provide records will automatically result in disciplinary action on the Programme Officer, apart from penalties under the RTI Act.\n(d) Whereas disciplinary action shall be taken on such programme officers who do not furnish the records to the social audit team, without wasting time, the social audit team should collect the required data from online database and start their social audit. Under no circumstance, the conduct of social audit be postponed on this ground.",
            "footnote": "",
            "is_definition": false,
            "sort_order": 4
        },
        {
            "number": "6",
            "title": "6. Information on the Social Audit.",
            "chapter": null,
            "content": "(b) Fie shall also inform the Sarpanch to convene social audit Gram Sabha on the expected date of completion of social audit.\n[7. Social Audit process in the village.\n(a) A thorough verification of Muster Roll entry and payments made in the time period specified for Social Audit by establishing contact with the wage seekers whose names are entered in the muster rolls;\n(b) Verification of all the Works by going to the work site;\n(c) Recording the written statements of the labourers on any issue as well as filling of the Social Audit formats and writing reports.\n(d) In case of any misappropriation funds, both the persons responsible and the ultimate recipient of such funds shall be identified and indict in the Report.]\n[8. Social Audit Ward Sabhas/Gram Sabhas.\n[9. Mandal Social Audit Public hearing.\n(a) All the deviations found in the social audit shall be read out by the social audit team Gram Panchayat-wise.\n(b) For each deviation pointed out by the social audit team, the Presiding Officer shall examine the evidence recorded by the Observer at the Gram Sabha / Ward Sabha and pass orders in each case in the open.\n(c) No requests for re-examination of witnesses or re-enquiry shall be entertained in this hearing.",
            "footnote": "",
            "is_definition": false,
            "sort_order": 5
        },
        {
            "number": "10",
            "title": "10. Concurrent social audit.",
            "chapter": null,
            "content": "(b) For this purpose, after the completion of the social audit in the village, the Village Social Auditors (VSAs) in the village along with the other primary stakeholders would undertake social audit concurrently at least once a month and on their own by following the process of social audit in Rule 5 (a) and (b) above.\n(c) Government agencies shall support such initiatives by providing copies of records as per RTI Act.\n(d) Reports submitted in such a process shall form part of the record, and shall be responded to by the implementing agencies.\n(e) Where shortcomings are found immediate action must be taken as per these rules. The report of the concurrent social audit as well as the action taken report must be placed before the next Gram Sabha.\n(f) For following up on the findings of social audit and provide hand-holding support to the process, there shall be a monthly meeting at mandal level with all the VSAs who have done concurrent social audit. Prompt action shall be initiated on all the observations made in the concurrent social audit in the monthly meeting by the Programme Officer.",
            "footnote": "",
            "is_definition": false,
            "sort_order": 6
        },
        {
            "number": "11",
            "title": "11. Follow up action.",
            "chapter": null,
            "content": "(a) Any issue which is raised during a Social Audit or any item in the Social Audit report that indicates a contravention of the Act or a shortcoming in the implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Act should automatically be interpreted as a \"complaint\" under the Grievance Redressal Section of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005.\n(b) The DPO shall ensure that action shall be completed as per the social audit observations finalised in the mandal public hearing within 14 days from the date of completion of the public hearing.\n(c) Where there is a dispute in the findings of the Social Audit the administration shall cause an enquiry and shall decide on the issue at the earliest and not later than one month\n(d) All cases remain unresolved for 15 days from the date of conduct of the public hearing shall be taken up by the Commissioner for follow up and effective resolution.\n(e) Wherever, in the course of a Social Audit, if evidence, through written and oral testimonies against those who have misappropriated money is established, action shall be initiated for recovery. This action for recovery' shall be without prejudice to action to be taken against the person under the relevant laws; provided that wherever it is established that these irregularities extractions have had a direct relation to wage payments under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the amount shall be paid back to workers within a period of a week.",
            "footnote": "",
            "is_definition": false,
            "sort_order": 7
        },
        {
            "number": "12",
            "title": "12. Role of Administration in the Social Audit Process.",
            "chapter": null,
            "content": "(a) The Project Director/Additional Project Director:\n(i) Shall ensure that administrative machinery cooperates in the required manner while conducting a social audit processes. He shall ensure that the records are submitted to the social audit team without delay.\n(ii) Shall necessarily attend the Social Audit Public Meetings.\n(iii) Responsible for monitoring the corrective action as per the social Audit findings including disciplinary cases as per Civil Services Rules; or criminal cases as\n(iv) Shall ensure that recoveries are facilitated, and in cases where those who have indulged in embezzlement return the money. For the money so returned, receipts shall be issued; and dues paid to the wage seekers within seven days of recovery.\n(b) Program Officer and Additional Program officer:\n(i) Shall provide copies of the records and information as requested for the social auditors immediately on filing the RTI application.\n(ii) Shall communicate in writing information regarding the Social Audit process and date of the Social Audit Gram Sabha to the EGS functionaries, public representatives and wage seekers on the SA process.\n(iii) Shall inform the Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat for convening of the social audit Gram Sabha on the last day of the social audit in the village.\n(iv) The MPDOs /Additional Program Officers along with the EGS functionaries shall necessarily participate in the social audit public meeting.\n(v) Shall take immediate corrective action on the issues arising out of social audits and shall ensure that decisions taken during Social Audit public meeting translate into administrative action.\n(vi) Shall dispose off any dispute or complaint recorded in the Social Audit report\n(vii) Shall give access to the village social auditors and labourers' representatives to attend the bi-weekly appraisal meetings and apprise them of the action taken by the Administration.",
            "footnote": "",
            "is_definition": false,
            "sort_order": 8
        },
        {
            "number": "13",
            "title": "13. Code of conduct for the social audit personnel.",
            "chapter": null,
            "content": "(i) The social audit shall exhibit high standards of impartiality and integrity in their operation.\n(ii) They shall conduct themselves with dignity in the village.\n(iii) They shall stay only in the houses of wage seekers.\n(iv) They shall accept the food arranged by Village Organization of SHGs only. VO shall be paid L 100 per day per social auditor to cover the expenses by the DRP.\n(b) Services of any social auditor violating the above code of conduct shall be summarily dispensed with.",
            "footnote": "",
            "is_definition": false,
            "sort_order": 9
        },
        {
            "number": "14",
            "title": "14. Monitoring of the social audit.",
            "chapter": null,
            "content": "",
            "footnote": "",
            "is_definition": false,
            "sort_order": 10
        },
        {
            "number": "15",
            "title": "15. Budget for the Social Audit Process.",
            "chapter": null,
            "content": "",
            "footnote": "",
            "is_definition": false,
            "sort_order": 11
        }
    ],
    "metadata": {
        "Act ID": "Last Updated 14nd September, 2019 [ap378]",
        "Act Number": "Published vide Notification No. G.O.Ms.No.98, PR & RD (RD.II), dated 9.03.2010",
        "Enactment Date": "",
        "Act Year": "2008",
        "Short Title": "National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme - AP Social Audit Rules, 2008",
        "Type": "STATE",
        "Location": "Andhra Pradesh"
    },
    "updated_at": "2026-09-29 21:55:19"
}