JKSSAAT sets future Agenda at Governing Body Meeting

Jammu, Feb 25: The Jammu and Kashmir Society for Social Audit, Accountability and Transparency (JKSSAAT) Wednesday held its second governing body meeting under the chairmanship of Ravi Kesar (former IFS) to assess performance, address key challenges, and outline future strategies to enhance social audits across the Union Territory.
The meeting was attended by Principal Accountant General (PAG) J&K, K.P. Yadaw; Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Mohammad Aijaz Asad; Director Finance, Umar Khan; Additional Secretary, Waseem Raja; former Director General, Accounts and Treasuries, Dr Moehammad Ishaq Wani; former State Information Commissioner, Professor Sudesh Kumar Sharma; and Head of the Centre for Rural Development and PR, IMPARD, Dr Reva Sharma, alongside representatives from the School Education and Social Welfare Departments.
The governing body reviewed the ongoing activities and future plans of JKSSAAT, particularly the performance of the Social Audit Unit (SAU) in auditing government schemes such as MGNREGA, PMAY(G), SBM(G), and PMAY(U). The meeting commended the SAU for achieving 100 percent Gram Panchayat (GP) coverage in the fiscal years 2022-23 and 2023-24, securing J&K a top national rank in social audits.
Key issues discussed included financial discipline in MGNREGA, adherence to scheme guidelines, and grievance redressal mechanisms. The governing body also reviewed the progress of financial recoveries, emphasising the importance of transparency and accountability in public welfare schemes. Chairperson Ravi Kesar praised the Social Audit Unit’s commitment, highlighting its achievements despite challenges such as manpower shortages. Secretary RDD, Mohammad Aijaz Asad, acknowledged the SAU’s role in strengthening public programmes through community engagement and rigorous auditing practices, reinforcing public trust in governance.
Meanwhile, PAG J&K, K.P. Yadaw, stressed the urgency of addressing pending social audit cases and advocated for hiring additional personnel to support the unit’s growing responsibilities. Presenting an overview of the unit’s accomplishments, Director, SAU, Shafia Naqshbandi, highlighted the training of approximately 600 Village Resource Persons (VRPs) across 20 districts to enhance social auditing capacity. The meeting also discussed key administrative matters, including the staffing structure of JKSAU, the proposed budget for FY 2025-26, and the expansion of social audits to cover centrally sponsored schemes implemented by other departments. Additionally, the governing body approved a new project proposal for social audits, incorporating the District Capex Plan and Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. The decisions taken at the meeting reaffirm JKSSAAT’s commitment to strengthening accountability and transparency in governance, ensuring that public welfare schemes are implemented effectively and benefit the people of Jammu and Kashmir.