5.2. Need of Social Audit

The investment of large amount of funds and resources by the Government of India and various national and international agencies, since independence in social development programmes, has not been justified by the impact it has made.

The major focus by the Government hitherto has been in the supply side of the Programme Delivery System. While improvement of the SUPPLY SIDE is a long term process strengthening the DEMAND SIDE, may be a short run process, which will improve the effectiveness of the total delivery system much faster.

There is a need to strengthen the DEMAND SIDE on a priority basis through:

a) Creating a culture of Social Audits of Development Programmes, and

b) Strengthening the Gram Sabhas, the closest institution to the Beneficiaries.