How Odisha's poor districts are gaining by social audits of welfare schemes

Significant changes were noticed in the reach and delivery of welfare schemes between the two social audits that covered anganwadi centres of 240 gram panchayats of 24 blocks in these districts

Social auditing has helped improve the reach and quality of welfare measures meant for the poor in six of Odisha’s most backward districts, a study has concluded. A social audit enables the evaluation of policy schemes through discussions between beneficiaries, government bodies and the implementers.

In six of the poorest and least developed districts of Odhisha--Koraput, Balangir, Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri and Kalahandi--a social audit of four welfare schemes was conducted between January and March 2018. This was followed by a second audit between December 2018 and February 2019.

Significant changes were noticed in the reach