Kerala Tops India in Social Auditing of Rural Employment Scheme

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala has secured the top position in the country for its performance in the social auditing of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The Kerala Social Audit Society carried out audits across 941 gram panchayats during the financial year 2024–25, a scale unmatched by any other state. While most states conduct such audits only once a year, Kerala remains the only state to complete the process every six months.
The achievement comes under the leadership of Dr. N Ramakanthan, Director of the Kerala Social Audit Society. Established in 2017, the Society has consistently ensured compliance and transparency in implementing the rural employment guarantee programme. Even during the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Society maintained uninterrupted operations and secured the state’s entitlement to central funding. Between the second quarter of 2021–22 and the 2024–25 financial year, Kerala received 47.95 crore rupees in central funds linked to the successful completion of social audits.
Currently, nearly 1,600 individuals are actively engaged in the auditing process under the Society’s structure. This includes 14 District Resource Persons, 152 Block Resource Persons, and 1,412 Village Resource Persons. These teams work across the state to verify the proper implementation of projects, gather feedback from workers, monitor fund disbursement, assess the land area covered under different works, and check the distribution of wages.
One of the key features of Kerala’s auditing model is its insistence on a collaborative review process. In cases where financial discrepancies or instances of corruption are identified, the audit teams hold discussions with the concerned panchayats before submitting final reports. This approach not only enhances accountability but also encourages corrective action at the grassroots level.
The central government mandates that states must utilize at least 75 percent of the allocated MGNREGS funds each year to remain eligible for funding in the subsequent year. Kerala has consistently met this requirement. During the 2024–25 period alone, a total of 48,419 complaints or violations were detected statewide, demonstrating the depth and rigour of the audit process.