Jaipur: Happy days for “bolero sarpanchs” are likely to be over in Rajasthan. The state government has decided to constitute social audit directorate to check rampant corruption in panchayats (rural elected bodies at village level).
The directorate will regularly conduct social audit of development works done by panchayats. Apart from quantum and quality of development works and welfare schemes, the main focus of the audit will be on where and how the money is spent.
The move has come following after Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) asked the central government to constitute an independent body in every state for audit of MNREGA. Social activists too have been demanding for quite some time about constitution of social audit directorate not just for MNREGA but all government departments.
It was not for nothing that term “bolero sarpanch” came into existence ever since MNREGA was launched a decade ago. With in no time of winning election sarpanchs were seen roaming around in it. For them this vehicle may have been useful on rusty rural roads but for others it became a symbol synonym of corruption.
