National Confederation of Dalit Organisations has initiated a National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity with a series of activities at the grassroot level, district level, state level and national level in collaboration with the more than 2100 Dalit, Adivasi,OBC and minorities led organisation with the critical support of Global Alliance for Improved Nutrion (GAIN). In order to strengthen delivery as per the provisions making people empowered for monitoring the execution of the programmes , social audit of nutrition and food security related programmes is the most important activity at the grassroot level. In order to make the Dalit and Adivasi leaders from the states of Jharkhand and Odhisha well versed with the methodology of social audit, training in Ranchi was planned adopting a methodology where classroom processes on social audit were followed by on the field conduct and participation in social audit.

Day One: 11 March, 2014

The training on social audit started with the introduction of the participants from four districts of Odhisha and four districts of Jharkhand. Out of the five districts only four districts participated in the training. Shankar Das, Champa Devi, Laxman Lohra, Babloo ,Pulwinder fromLohardaga, Sanjay Kumar Ghadea, Matarani from Mayurbhanj, Ashok Malik and Bidulata Malik from Kendrapada,A Laxmana from Korput,Kanti Kumari from Hazaribagh,Munni Devi, Sewika , Tangar Toli, Masmano, Bhandra Block, Lohardaga,Urmila Devi, Sewika, Bedal , Bhandra Block, Lohardaga,Promila Mehra and Neelam Kumari from Giridih, Krishna Paswan, Dhnabad and others introduced themselves. Deepak, A Gupta, Asian Sustainable Development Institute attended the inaugural session for learning on the processes of social audit.

After introduction, Ashok Sinha initiated the proceedings of the training explaining the following objectives of the training:

Understanding the difference between primary and secondary information.

Understand the social audit processes Understanding the stakeholders in nutrition agenda in the government,

media, civil society organisations Second objective is under the social audit

Munni Devi, Urmila Devi Anganwadi sahayika and Anganwadi worker was called to dais with Prof.Himadri Sinha .This was a special strategy adopted for establishing the centrality of AWW and Sahayika at the village level being the last point of delivery for the children Mr. Ashok Sinha explained project as part of the National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity with detailed description of the state level , national level and grassroots level processes. Describing the election time as an appropriate opportunity to securing commitment from the political parties, he called for meeting the politicians and register the demands of the campaign. “We are meeting the policy makers. We have a opportune time for taking up this issue considering the fact that with election”. He explained the NACDOR initiative for bringing together all the Dalit leaders at the state and

national level. Recognising the importance of all the stakeholders and dutybearers, he explained about stakeholders.

Dr.Mukhtar Alam spoke on the criticality of the campaign reinforcing the communication of Ashok Sinha on the mechanism for realising the nutrition agenda. He explained to the district leaders about the intelligent and smart design of the programmes under NACDOR led National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity where grassroots activities were linked to state based advocacy,

national advocacy and then representation of NACDOR at international forum ensured that critical learning from the campaign were shared at all levels in order to bring in critical changes in policy and programming for nutrition security of Dalits , Adivasis and vulnerable groups across the social, cultural and religious groups. The campaign envisaged the overall thrust of synchronising actions at all levels simultaneously in order to ensure that none were left

behind.

Ms. Promila Mehra district leader from Giridih, National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity and BDC member addressing the inaugural session informed about the Nigrani Samiti that has been formed. She informed about how the Nigrani Samiti with a mandate for monitoring the implementation of ICDS at the village needs to function better addressing the issue of children and women while taking up the issues of ICDS workers. She cited the example of increased number of women who needed support, but the allocation were not increased proportionately. She felt that ANM, AWW and sahayika coordinated well for increased number of beneficiaries. There are instances when AWW use their money to purchase the provision at times when they do not receive the payment in time. Locals feel that AWW eat out of the provisions for children. Hence, she felt Nigrani Samiti ( would be working better for ensuring transparency. However, she shared that Nigrani Samiti s at all place were not working properly. She called for regular civil society engagement for making Nigrani Samiti es If the malnutrition has to be eradicated, Nigrani Samiti should be facilitated to functional through civil society engagement.

Mrs.Urmila Devi , Anganwadi Worker at village Bedal of Logardaga district spoke on her work sharing some pieces of work like visiting houses and immunising children. She said from pregnancy to delivery, AWW and sahiya (the popular word for assistant anganwadi worker) is active

Figure 1 Social Audit Training Session, HPDC,Ranchi

Mrs. Munni Devi , an Anganwadi worker shared her work at Tangartoli in village Masmano of Lohardaga district . She informed that new born is given medicine and children in the age group 3 to 6 children are being given education. Also, she informed that she plays with the children.

Prof. Himadri Sinha said that he came for his commitment to eradicating social exclusion, nutrition and social audit. He expressed his happiness that those who were his students are part of the national campaign on Nutrition for Dignity. He appreciated NACDOR and GAIN for ensuring that Anganwadi worker is given the stage in the training on social audit for ensuring. On the change processes that change the traditional equations in society, he observed that when there is change, there are some who resist.

Reflecting on the social realities, he felt that insensitivity to social exclusion is increasing. He felt that all of us are responsible for this negligence of the excluded. Recalling the impact of caste based attitudes killing the constitutional ideals, he referred to an observation during 40 day rural camp in the village as part of the curriculum of XISS curriculum. He referred to one of his camp in Bero where he observed that some children are not eating. He found out after enquiring that children did not bring the plate. He was told that children were not allowed to bring the plates by their families considering the fact that Dalit and Adivasi cooks were there in the school. Considering such experiences, He appreciated the National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity. He felt that it is urgent that we need to campaign for nutrition. There are some who are not interested in change. He thanked NACDOR for launching the National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity and hoped that the campaign would spread across the states. Responding to description, he expressed deep satisfaction that National Confederation of Dalit Organisations has initiated the campaign with lot of seriousness. “I am happy that serious work on nutrition is going to take place nationally and in the state of Jharkhand”.

Reflecting on the way, vision for Jharkhand He recalled how Jharkhand was created with great hopes but realised that these hopes have been dashed. He wondered as to the first time, when non-plan expenditure is more than the plan expenditure. After 13 years, Jharkhand government realised that plan expenditure is to be more. Ashok Singh, Secretary, Government shamelessly announced that 13000 crore was returned. When there is money in plan expenditure and if the same is not used, this is loss of the state, this is loss for the people for whom money is allotted. He called for monitoring the expenditure under plan. He wanted to ensure that plan expenditure is optimum.

One of the important reason that made him decide to come for the training was because he associated with social audit and considered this as a powerful instrument for making governance accountable, responsive and transparent .Informing about the recommendations that he made during the social audit of ICDS in the three states of Jharkhand, Odhisha and Bihar, he expressed happiness over the acceptance of some of the recommendations. He suggested that education should be also address for social auditing. Education

should be also added in the campaign. He assured support for the campaign and said that campaign is very important for realising the goal of nutritional security.

Ashok Sinha expressed happiness about the suggestions and sought the report on three states that Prof. Sinha had done on ICDS. Ashok Sinha said that we would be taking the issues from Panchayat to Parliament.

Shweta Guria, programme officer, NACDOR for the state of Jharkhand thanking Prof. Sinha expressed happiness about the involvement of grass roots AWW. She felt that all should have the confidence in sharing. Through sharing, it would be possible to assert more without thinking that someone knew more and someone was more inferior.

In the post tea session, Ashok Sinha shared about NACDOR and NCND. How does one identify oneself is important. Why we are taking this campaign? We are engaged in campaign in order to integrate the Dalit issues in national agenda. He explained the work at the Panchayat , state and national level that would be taken up in the campaign.

Participants suggested social audit of ASHA and AWW sahayaki as well.

In the post lunch session, social audit was defined as an instrument to examine the delivery of the services by social groups with the following principles:

Transparency: operating in such a way that it is easy for others to see what actions are performed in a project or scheme.

Accountability: acknowledgment and assumption of responsibilities for actions and answerablility of resulting consequences

Social audit: a public assembly convened by Gram Sabha as part of the process of social audit

Vigilance : A state of keeping careful watch for possible dangers or difficulties . In order to ensure that there is no danger in the future. In the case of nutrition, one needs to ensure that there is no more malnutrition

Participatory ( participation of all duty bearers and beneficiaries) Grievance redressal ( grievance ‘shikayat’ is an official statement for

exposing unfair practices. A mean of continuous public vi Verifiability

Intense discussions were held on the principles and terms used in the social audit processes. Social Audit is the right of the Gram Sabha. It was explained that principles are important to be internalised. Mr. Sinha shared the experience of Khadda where there were people from the government office who reached to find what was going to happen. One fourth class employed from the office of Khadda block had reached to find out about the training and visit of training to the villages of Hanumanganj and Bhagwanpur.

He explained that Problem, grievance and demand are three key words for social audit that must be understood.

There are two types of audit- financial and social. Financial audit is done by expert. General financial audit is done each year by government, non government organisations and expert. All financial audit is by the expert not by society. Social audit is for quality and quantity. In the Panchayat raj, all these social audits are done by Gram Sabha . Social audit is provision for each stage of the project for the entire duration. He gave an example of ICDS where SMS is sent each day. He informed that Social audit cannot be done with primary information and there is need to collect evidences for claims.

On the features of social audit, he explained the following:

Provides a platform for people for discussing the provisions, delivery and expectations

Empowering the people in the Gram Sabha specially those who are not heard

Forum for learning about the budget and expenditure Ensures participation of excluded groups such as Dalits, Adivasis and

minorities. Powerful instrument for prevention of corruption and discrimination

Processes in social audit:

1. Learning on the schemes and identification of issues2. Collecting information on the rule for schemes3. Informing the Gram Sabha ,government officials4. Informing all the constituents 5. Identifying local issues related to schemes such as discrimination of

children, lack of utensils 6. Clarifying on the date and duration of social audit, reporting 7. Organise village meeting and informing the processes8. Formation of Social Audit Group and training 9. Finalising indicator for schemes such as whether food is given10.Collection of documents for the MDM, and understanding the legal basis

for documents for collecting the document11.Consultation with the social audit groups 12.Preparing for social audit13.Presentation of the information through charts showing the contrast and

comparing the information and showing to village14.Resolution of Gram Sabha for conducting the social audit for information15.Fixing the date for social audit16.Encouraging people to speak on the day of public hearing .shared the

example of how a girl child 17.Social Audit Group and other representatives need to decided on the

processes of jury members18.Forming the Jury with media representatives for listening to the issues and

responding with recommendations

Organising Public Hearing with the following steps:

Report of the Gram Sabha Resolution of the Gram Sabha Charter of demand Report preparations Filing the grievance with the concerned officials Report on the impact of social audit

Role of Gramsabha:

To ensure that all Dalits , Adivasis and minorities are heard To ensure that resolutions capture the expressed needs and issues Role of government : To ensure acceptance of social audit group To arrange for social To work on the report of the social audit

Further, it was explained that concerned departments to act on the issues related to them . For example, department of women and children would be addressing the issue raised on ICDS. It is important to following up with the departments. He emphasised that National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity ensured holistic work linking grassroots learning for administrative action at the block and district level to addressing the policy gaps at the state and national level.

Role Social Audit Group

To inform on the provision of the scheme To have knowledge of the facts for the implementation of the scheme. For

example learning on the number of children To ensure participation of people in the village To collect the grievance in writing with signatures To ensure participation of those who have to share their experiences

He informed that after the formation of social audit group, a letter should be written to the district officials ensuring acceptance of social audit group. Further, he informed that social audit group could be given an identity and this could be distributed among the members of the social audit group.

To establish the identity of organisation is the key mantra of the process. One needs to have this identity.

Need for identity card for district leaders and associates (among the trainees or the one recommended by the district leader) by NACDOR is urgently needed. This need was expressed in UP as well where, it was agreed that letter would be written to district collector with a cc to the district leaders.

Participants were asked to review the deliberations. As part of review, Krishna Paswan shared that social audit process would enable people to ensure best delivery of quality and quantity.

On Myths that needs to be broken, trainees were explained that:

Social audit is for blaming government officials. This is prejudice that need to removing through taking government officials on board explaining them on the common goal of best delivery in quality and quantity as per the provision.

There are some among the members of the Gram Sabha who think that if the problems are highlighted, then benefits would stop. This needs to explained through sharing on the rights and entitlements.

Other issues are discussed rather than the issues for which social audit is planned.

There is lack of awareness on the social audit process. Effective constituency runs away from the social audit.

He highlighted the importance of the participation of Gram Sabha leaders. Gram Sabha can be organised but without the presence of Pradhan and Panchayat secretary, there is no legality for the process. Thus, he underlined the importance of the presence of Pradhan and Panchayat Secretary for the effectiveness of social audit.

If both do not come, then request to the BDO will have to in writing for being present on the occasion of social audit. If BDO will come then secretary and Gram Pradhan would be automatically joining.

For the Precautions, Mr.Sinha called for following:

Stay away from controversies Be realistic Listen to all Do not engage in debate unduly Conduct the processes without showing biases Engage all

Concluding the day, processes on the field visit were discussed. Requested all to know about ICDS and MDM beforehand. Mixed group from among the trainees from Odhisha and Jharkhand were formed. Two groups for two villages were formed as follows:

Group I- for Bedal village

1. Shweta , 2. Shankar Das, 3. Neelam Besra, 4. Vidulata Malik5. Champa6. Matarani7. Hemant Kumar Sethi8. Ashok Malik.9. Luxman Lohra10.Dr.M.Mukhtar Alam

11.Dablu Sahu

Group II- for Masmano

1. Sanjay Kumar Ghadea, 2. A Laxana, 3. Ajay Kumar Kandi, 4. Promila Mehra, 5. Krishna Paswan, 6. Pratap C Mishra ,7. Ashok K Sinha8. Kanti Kumari9. Neelam Kumari10.Pulendra Kumar Mahto

Day Two: 12 March 2014 Visit to villages

The team boarded train from Ranchi to Lohardaga. Mr.Ashok Sinha, Programme Director, NACDOR and Shweta Guria went to meet the district officials seeking their participation in the social audit.

Visit to ICDS, Tangar Tola, Masomano

After initial discussion on ICDS with the facilitation of Dr Mukhtar Alam in the first group, Ms. Bidulata Malik and Champa Devi discussed with Anganwadi worker on the provisions as per the existing norms in Jharkhand:

For children in the age groups of 7 Months -3 years, she informed on the quantities of items for cooked food per child as per the following measurement:

1. Rice 60 gram 2. 10 gram dal3. Soya Buree 10 gram, 4. refined oil -5 gram5. Sugar -38 gram

Provisions for women are as follows:

1. Rice 80 gram 2. Dali 20 gram3. Soya Burrie 20 gram 4. Oil -10 gram5. Sugar 25 gram

For Children in the age group of 3-6 years, following are the provisions

1. Rice - 75 gram , 2. Dal -10 gram 3. 5 gram Soya Burree,4. Oil for wheat dalia day 6 gram

5. Oil for Chana sattu : 3 gram, 6. Sugar for Dalia-12.5 gram, 7. Sugar for Channa Sattu: 15 gram, 8. Vegetable- 15 gram, 9. Cooking fuel /Jalwan per child 3 paise. ( two time cooking is there once for

Dalia and another time for lunch)

Mrs. Munni Devi informed that for January, February poshahar money has not been received. She lamented that people do not know this. On the question as to how, nutrition was being provided for the children and women, she informed that she was arranging all through borrowing.

Women are given dry ration. She informed that cost of rice is given at the rate of Rs.18

per kg , but she was buying at the rate of Rs.26 per Kilogram, even the lowest rate is Rs.20 per Kilogram. Rate is given low and money is not given in time. On queries as to how she was managing without receiving money in time, she informed that she was purchasing ration on credit and she was managing through Mahila Mandal . Bidulata asked whether she complained to officials, she said that she was sending the reports but no action was taken in this regard. She informed that Rs.4000 was not paid in the last month.

Record findings:

THR list had list of women receiving benefit from anganwadi and health deparment. 13 women are examined, immunised and given nutrition.

9 lactating mother are receiving DPT and polio at the interval of 1.5 month, second on 2.5 month, third in 3.5 month and in the 9 month , vitamin A dose is given along with vaccination for Khasra.

Vitamin A dose is given till 5 years at the interval of six months. Booster at 1.5, 3 years and 5 years.

Survey is done at the interval of three months. Growth Chart for 30 children in the age group of 0-5 year .Rose color is for

girls , green color is for boys. Attendance register for children and AWW is there. Birth and death

register is also there. Mukhyamantri Ladli Yojna has 9 beneficiary. 5 girls have received the

Rs.6000 per month. Stock register is there for keeping record of materials that are bought.

Figure 2 Discussions on Findings of Visit to ICDS and MDM at Masmano, Lohardago,Jharkhand

Children 10 boys and 9 girls are enrolled. 6 boys from SC, 3 general, 1 ST. Among girls, 3 SC, 5 ST and one general.

Arm measurement is done through tape that was found available there. Due to delay in payment , Munni Devi is taking money at interest for the

purchase of poshahar for children and women. Earlier , quality of furry Kishori girl is not part of ICDS in Jharkhand. Now school is giving for 14-18

age. Sookha ration is closed for the last two years. Water arrangement is not there. Toilet is there ,but not functional Anganwadi centre constructed in 1993 and repaired in 1999 Neelam Devi, Sheetal Devi were suggested as part of meeting of

beneficieries at Masmano. Munni Devi sought the copy of the letter sent to collector as her name

appeared in the newspaper. In 93-94 ICDS building constructed, repaired in 99 and since then nothing

has happened.

Lal Ranjit Nath Sahdev extended hospitality for the entire team at his school in the village at the community hall constructed with the MLA fund. He was kind to organise accommodation of all the female participants inside his house as there there was only one hall for all.

In the evening at Masmano village, discussions were held on the observations made by the teams in the village of Bedal and Masmano in a meeting:

Mid Day Meal Team observations at Masmano:

Neelam Besra shared her observations. Children complained of the poor quality of food, absence of toilets. She informed that children Format was filled. She ensured that all the issues were attended. Average attendance of children was 75% less by 25%..

Mid Day Scheme observations at Bedal

Pratap Chandra Mishra informed that he could not go as he could not differentiate between the groups. Pratap informed that para teacher did not know all the provisions of MDM.

Ashok K Sinha explained that we need to have roles clear as social audit group. We need to be clear about the roles and steps in the social audit. He informed that public hearing would be at 12 o clock.

ICDS observations at Masmano:

Vidulata Mallick shared her observations. Private school enrolment and migration has affected the enrolment at the ICDS. There are19 children attending while the enrolment is for 30 against the provision of 40 children. Building is not in good shape and not repaired after 1999.

Mrs. Munni Devi responded that complaints have been made for toilet. Format for the status of ICDS was there and it was being filled. Now, she informed ‘Office

is not given the format for filling about the status of ICDS. Since, September 2014, format is not being sent. Villagers had contributed for the repair of pump, but the problem could not be solved as the pump continued to have problems . Hence, children after receiving food are returning to homes for eating. She informed that supervisor is coming on THR day. February 8,2014 was the last when supervisor came. That means more than a month elapsed since the supervisor as we visited the ICDS on 12th March. She should be coming each month but she is not being able to reach. She came in February 8 2013.

On the query as to whether anyone visited from the district office last year. Mrs.Munni Devi informed that DC and DPO came on June 28 2013. She informed that People are not interested in AWC. On the number of malnourished children in the village, she informed that there are 3 malnourished children.

Jan Sunwai at Durga Pooja Chauk agreed at Masmano.

Findings of the visit to MDM at Primary school , Bedal

Sanitation problem is there , Condition is not good Phenyl is provided Three cooks are there at the schools Checking is done by teachers Cooked food is tested by the teachers There is no label for MDM ration. Monthly lifting is there 360 children are there. Most are STs one SC is there. One girl is coming

from Arko. Kitchen is not good. Classroom is used for cooking food. Soap is provided. Plate is given by school.

ICDS Bedal observations were shared in the preparatory meeting for public hearing. It was agreed that all the issuex would be put on the chart paper for sharing in the public hearing .One trainee from Odhisha and another from Jharkhand would be presenting the findings.

Third Day : March 13, 2014 Masmano Jansunwai /Public Hearing proceedings:

As per prior information to people in Masmano village, people gathers at a public place chosen by the village. The place was Durga Puja Place with a lawn in front. Women were seated on beat as per the local norms and men sat in the front. Place being very small, it was not possible to arrange chairs .Also considering the small support for social audits in project, it was

Figure 3 Mr.Luxman Lohra on the Follow up Actions after Public Hearing on ICDS and MDM at Masmano village,Bhandara Block,Lohardaga,Jharkhand

decided that local arrangements would be preferred rather than hiring elaborate arrangements for public hearing and Gram Sabha. Due to code of conduct for parliamentary election, we have prior information that government officials would not be reaching for social audit though permission had been granted for conducting the social audit proceedings by the district collector.

Following issues related to ICDS at Masmano were shared:

Building is damaged Toilet is not functional; Hand pump is not functional CDPO comes in 3-4 months Supervisor is not coming each month Only 19 children are enrolled while there is provision for 40. Reasons for

the missing children were cited. Migration of families to urban areas was cited as a reason.

The Sewika is not receiving payment in time Honorarium is not given time 3 Malnourished children are in the village Lack of cleanliness and hygiene at the centre Rice rate is given Rs.18 per kg while there is nothing available at this rate. VHNDs are being observed.

Among the mother’s who responded, Seema Devi said that she did not know how much is the provisions under ICDS. Seema Devi informed that : Rice ,pulse ,refined oil is being given .

AWW is not receiving the rate that is being paid for purchase of rice. For the complaints on the water pump, Munni Devi sevika shared about Mukhiya who according to her has been saying that he does not have the number of the plumber /mistry. There are many places where tube well is not functioning. Villages are aware of the toll free number. Bharat Ram said that toll free number in not working. He shared his work as facilitator for the entire block and informed that there are two hand pumps are not working in the village. He did not file complaint in writing. There is only one Jan Sahiya for one revenue village.

On Mid Day Meal Scheme, following were shared:

1. Boundary wall is incomplete.2. Damaged well is there in the school that is not conducive for children’s

play3. 300-350 children are enrolled but 25% children are generally absent.4. Only one spoon of rice is given, if children ask for more, they are rebuked.5. One room is damaged and very old.6. Officers are not coming to inspect the food7. Cooks are not receiving honorarium8. There are no plates for children in the school9. SMC meeting is not taking place

Mr Lal Jai Prakash Nath, President of SMC responding to the observations said that monthly meetings should be taking place . He confessed that in the last three years, no meeting has taken place in the last three years. 25-30% children are absent daily. 20 % of children are playing on roads now. He promised that meetings would now be regular in order to ensure best quality in education.

On the way back from public hearing, team members visited the Anganwadi to watch immunisation by ASHA worker Rizwana Khatoon with Roqayya Begum. From the equipments for which list was not seen, it appeared that ANM has been provided with adequate number of equipments for monitoring the growth of children and prescribing inoculation and medicines for pregnant and lactating mothers.

After the conclusion of public hearing, teams left for Lohardaga for boarding train to Ranchi.

Day Four: March 14, 2014, HPDC: Recapitulation, Firming up plans for Social Audits

Sessions was dedicated to recapitulation of the deliberations and on the field conduct of social audit and public hearing. Ashok Sinha called for sharing of the observations.

Gurjeet Singh, an expert on social audit was called for explaining the social audit. He explained that ICDS has reference for the formation of Nigrani Samiti constituted by the villagers including mothers of the children. In the social audit, he informed that examining quantity, quality, periodicity, and behaviour is important. How much is given, what is quantity that is given, whether the quantity given is as per the stipulated norms. How many times if given and how the services are being delivered.

On the rights of conducting the social audit, he said Gram Sabha has a right to conduct social audit. He called for under social distribution, verify orally from beneficiaries, verify the documents and records physically and then compare the documents. After three forms of verifications, he informed that assessment of gap found in the verification reports is the outcome of social audit. These gaps are presented to the Gram Sabha. Gram Sabha report is validated. When all the Panchayat reports are done then Panchayat level public hearing is to be organised. Thus the processes according to him in the conduct of the report are the following:

Taking reports on distribution from the CDPO Verification of reports orally by the benficieries Physical verification Comparing the documents Gap in the verification reports is the social audit Gaps are presented to Gram Sabha Gram Sabha reports are validated

When all the Gram Sabha reports are ready and validated the public hearing is called

Conduct of the public hearing Filing the report of the public hearing and collecting the documenting the

decision of the Jury Submission of the application with problems and demands to the

concerned authorities.

He shared the experience of a social audit of ICDS, where children were not found enrolled at two centres as per the reports provided in this regard. For the impact of the social audit, he informed 10000 centres increased after the conduct of social audit. Sharing the information of the 16,000 centre does not have weighing machines. On the number of children found at the centres against the enrolment figures, he shared that he had not seem more than 11 children at a centre .Social audits are powerful. He shared his experience on the impact of social

audits. The impact was electrical , he informed that after the social audit , Panchayat centres started functioning. He shared the experience of a school that had 800 children where Mid-Day Meal was being fed the whole. He called for planning social audits properly. He called for planning the intervention without behaving like an external auditor.

Some of the desirables in the social audit were shared as below:

We need to support the processes for organising the social audit. We need to support the processes. We need to support and cooperate. We need to conduct the processes comprehensively. We need to ensure that policy gaps are addressed. We need to work for finding out the ways for addressing the policy gaps .

On the importance of social audit, he enumerated the following critical impacts:

Social audit is for deepening democracy. When social audit is done, people are empowered. Social audit established the power of people Establishes democracy and deepens it Builds the capacity of Gram Sabha Deepens democracy Establishes probity Makes all equal participants in governance making it accountable,

transparent and responsive

Figure 4 Mr.Gurjeet Singh and Mr.Balram sharing learning on Social Audit

Mr.Ashok K Sinha called Mr.Balram associated with Right to Food campaign for strengthening the resolve of trainees and generates inspiring them in the struggle for nutrition security for Dalits, Adivasis and all vulnerable communities. He emphasised that social audit process is for strengthening the democracy. For illustrating the case of laws with adequate implementation without any strings creating hurdles in the delivery, he brought in the example of a just king who arranged for a bell to be rung at all time, but created a circle for ensuring that king was not disturbed all the time. Through this example, he communicated that we need to ensure that laws are implemented for the common good.

He referred to MNREGA where tribal and Dalit sub plan component money of 64,000 crore is being used. In ICDS, he pointed out that more than half of the money allotted in ICDS is from tribal sub plan. Pointing out the violations in the use of Tribal and SC Component Plan money, he informed about the instance where swimming pool, bridges, airport expansion is being constructed using the tribal sub plan and SC sub plan.

Bemoaning the policy direction for contracting out ICDS supplies, he expressed serious apprehension for the suggestion that companies should be contacted to supply the ICDS centres in order to create regularity in the supplies for ICDS. In this regard, he informed that Secretary, WCD, Government of Jharkhand was suggesting that a company should be contracted for giving the nutritional inputs.

For taking the precautions against social audit being used for extracting more money from the Panchayat representatives, he referred to some district officials who had called some people to give in false testimonies on the occasion of social audit. He pointed out that this technique was used to threaten the Pradhans suggesting that if they did not give money, social audit reports would go against them or they would be subject to social audit. Therefore, he called for ensuring that social audit is not used for making corrupt more corrupt. On precautions, he informed on the following measures that should be taken:

All the guidelines , government orders, provisions should be known When, there is social audit, training of all engaged in social audit should

be done. Social audit’s first step is to inform about the organisation conducting

social audit in order to bridge trust deficits between people and the organisations.

When, social audit is done, a common mans gets the power to ask the questions and thus all in the village should be made aware of the social audit process.

On the importance of social audit, he observed that social audit is a powerful tool for organising people. As a result of social audit, he informed that labour organisations are being formed. Similarly, he felt that social audit of ICDS may result in forming organisation of the mothers. Social audit of Mid Day Meal Scheme might result in the formation of organisation of parents. Thus, he concluded that social audit is an important way to strengthen all specially those

who are historically marginalised and contemporarily marginalised. The processed of social audit generates ownership of the community.

He informed about three outcomes of the social audit:

1. Community Ownership of ICDS ensured: It is our responsibility to make the community own the ICDS .One of the indicator of this would be community managing the ICDS. For example ,the day when she did not come to ICDS, people would be looking after the ICDS centre and kids. This would be possible when community developed the sense of owning the ICDS. Community gets empowered to own the ICDS. Community ownership is generated through social audit. Gram Sabha has the right to change the Sewika. Gram Sabha, dealer, Meth, schools, Sahayika , Meth can all be changed.

2. Administrative gap addressed: Social audit ensures that bridging administrative gaps through bringing all the information together on provisions and delivery.

3. Policy gaps are addressed: If budget is not sanctioned then there is an issue. We need to ask the MLA and MP. In Jharkhand, this did not happen due to political issue.

Before the conduct of social audits, he said the following steps should be taken:

Action plan should be made for six months for social audit. When we start the social audit processes. We need to ensure that all the

preparations are made. Each step should be planned in detail with action responsibilities and

leadership responsibility for ensuring the delivery of the final outcome that is impact on the delivery at the grassroots level.

Mr.Sudeep Nayak associated with Nutrition programme of CNI, Referred to Dr. BR Ambedkar’s struggle for locating the struggle against discrimination in India. He wondered whether people are living with dignity as he realised that Adivasis and Dalits are still oppressed lot. He shared that Adivasis and Dalits are being oppressed, schemes limit with hunger. He felt that political power was important and till the time there is no political power, Dalits and Adivasis would not be getting the rights. He felt that there are many candidates who after receiving power forget their communities. Referring to corruption, he informed about corruption at various levels. He informed that administration knows about the issues; however there is not much improvement.

Reflecting on Odhisha situation with reference to the status of Dalits and Adivasis, he said Odhisha situation is better than Jharkhand. In Jharkhand, he complained that Gram Sabhas has not been given power, block office people are the ones who are preparing plans . Community based participatory planning is not being ensured. He called for empowering people and creating power in the people. Further, he called for strengthening the Gram Sabhas while noting the challenges that are emerging in the villages where migration is taking place at a much accelerated pace. He stressed that Gram Sabha would be powerful only

when they are engaged on the critical issues of planning. Describing the current situation in the villages, he said that people were migrating and villages are getting empty. Informing about the call of food sovereignty, he said much needs to be done in policy and programming for ensuring food sovereignty. On the misuse of SC component budget that could be used for SC habitations, he shared his experience about his visit to Darbhanga where helipad was made in the name of playground for children. Sharing these, he described social audit to be an important process for making governance accountable.

In the first half of the day training concluded with a resolve for ensuring that social audits are conducted under National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity in order to ensure realisation of food and nutritional security through making delivery better qualitatively and quantitatively.

Conclusion:

The training on social audit showed the importance of social audit itself through practice demonstration of the importance of social audit processes in the village of Masmano where we could find the provisions, gaps, complaints and demands. With concluding discussions with Mr. Luxman Lora in the morning of 15th March for the follow up actions, the training came to a conclusion with the first preparatory meeting of the Jharkhand State Steering Committee meeting. Action points emerging in the deliberation of the Steering Committee followed diligently would generate substantial result for the campaign both in the short term and long term.

Figure 5 NACDOR with Social Audit Trainees at Masmano,Lohardaga, Jharkhand