Critically examine the utility of the social audit framework in bringing the governance process closer to the people.

iv Put people at the centre of governance as people will transform from passive participants in governance to active seekers v Ensure good governance is ensured ii Upholding rule of law, transparency Challenges present: i Lack of social capital among people - Class, caste and gender divide among Grama Sabha ii Bureaucratization of process had taken away the participatory & democratic approach iii Nexus between bureaucrats-panchayat official had led to ineffective outcomes iv No power institutionalized structure to take up social audit

Measures for improving audit mechanism: i Institutionalization of process - Andhra Pradesh model - Society for Social audit accountability & transparency SAAT while ensuring autonomy of Grama Sabha & Meghalaya law ii Legal backing at national level while ensuring autonomy of Grama Sabha & Meghalaya law iii Generating awareness & OSAI funds for MREGIN used for social audit iv Preventing nexus among bureaucrats & panchayat members by involving Junco and Civil Society member Social audit can become an extraordinary tool by the above reforms and usher on new era of participatory governance