(1) The services of Voluntary Consumer Organizations actively working for consumer protection and local NGOs with good track record shall be utilized to conduct social audit either on voluntary basis without payment of any honorarium from the Government or on payment of a fixed remuneration per social audit meeting as may be decided by the Government.
(2) Voluntary Consumer Organizations and Non-Government Organizations shall be selected by the Collectors, after careful verification of their antecedents and track record, for each Block and Urban Local Body.
(3) Fair Price Shop-wise schedule for social audit shall be drawn up in advance jointly by the Voluntary Consumer Organization or Non-Government Organization and the Block Development Officer or Municipal Commissioner or Executive Officer. Wide publicity shall be given for social audits by the Block Development Officer of Block or Municipal Commissioner of Municipal Corporation or Executive Officer of Urban Local Body and the Voluntary Consumer Organization or Non-Government Organization to facilitate public participation.
(4) Social Audit shall be attended by Block and Fair Price Shops level Vigilance Committee members, elected PRI/ULB representatives, general public and members of Voluntary Consumer Organization or Non-Government Organization. At least one officer of Civil Supplies and one officer from other Departments deputed by Collector or Block Development Officer or Executive Officer of Municipality or Municipal Commissioner of Municipal Corporation shall remain present during the Social Audit and authenticate the ‘Social Audit Report’ along with the Voluntary Consumer Organization or Non-Government 13 Organization representatives. The Collector or other senior officer shall, at least, attend a few of such social audit session.
(5) Social Audit sessions shall cover the overall functioning of the schemes; and more specifically, the following aspects. —
(a) Regular opening of the Fair Price Shops;
(b) Timely receipt and distribution of food grain;
(c) Quality of food grains and correct weighment;
(d) Proper and correct maintenance of records and Point of Sale devices;
(e) Display of stock, price, entitlement and other details by Fair Price Dealers;
(f) Availability of list of ration card holders;
(g) Display of Citizen’s Charter and Complaint Book;
(h) Verification of list of ration cards and genuineness of list of card holders, People’s perception on errors of inclusion and exclusion;
(i) Verification of at least 5% of ration cards to verify proper and timely distribution of PDS commodities;
(j) Functioning of Point of Sale Devices;
(k) Other issues as may be decided from time to time.
(6) The Fair price Shop dealers shall be duty-bound to produce all their records to the Voluntary Consumer Organization or Non-Government Organization during the ‘Social Audit’ and to cooperate fully with them. Civil Supplies Official concerned deputed to the social audit shall have to ensure this aspect.
(7) The check lists and other stationery items for Social Audit shall be supplied by the Government
(8) Voluntary Consumer Organization or Non- Government Organization shall prepare the report and have the report authenticated by the members. Voluntary Consumer Organization or Non- Government Organization shall submit the report of ‘Social Audit’ to the concerned Block Development Organization or Executive Officer or Collector of the District to take appropriate measures as may be necessary to bring in competency in the areas of concern found out during social audit.
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(9) In case of any action found to have been taken contrary to the interest of the beneficiaries at the time of social audit, the same shall be brought forthwith to the notice of the Collector for taking action as per the relevant law.
(10) Block or Municipality or Municipal Corporation wise summary report of the social audits conducted during a financial year may be sent by the Collector of the District to the Government.
(11) Social audit may be held anytime convenient to the general public. No social audit shall be conducted in a manner obstructing the normal work of any Government official or authority. Efforts shall be made to cover as many Fair Price Shops as possible, but in no case not less than twenty-five per cent in a financial year.