AP Social Audit Body Bags SKOCH Gold
The award was presented at the 109th SKOCH Summit at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi: Reports
VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh’s Society for Social Audit Accountability and Transparency (SSAAT) has become the first state social audit organisation in the country to receive the SKOCH Gold Award for its efforts to promote transparent, accountable and participatory governance.
The award was presented at the 109th SKOCH Summit at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. AP social audit director G. Srikanth received it on behalf of SSAAT, functioning under the panchayat raj and rural development department.
The initiatives under the direction of Deputy Chief Minister and panchayat raj and rural development minister K. Pawan Kalyan have given fresh impetus to social audits, enabling people to scrutinise government works, raise concerns and flag implementation issues.
Srikanth stated that SSAAT conducted 13,396 social audits annually. It covered 8.9 lakh works in 2024-25 and 9.18 lakh works in 2025-26, besides reaching 43.4 lakh wage-worker households to record grievances and suggestions.
The model has drawn national attention, with representatives from 22 states visiting Guntur, Kurnool and Emmiganur to study field audits, community participation, and grievance registration and reporting. SSAAT has also trained officials from other states.
Srikanth said the award recognised the collective efforts of staff and field teams and would encourage greater public participation.