Social Audit Report on the Implementation of ICDS, PDS and MDM

In the village Manikadar, Kota Panchayat, Jawa Block, District, Reewa, Madhya Pradesh

Dr. Mukhtar Alamnaitional confederation of Dalit Organisations

Section 1. Introduction about National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity and Lead Organization and coverage:

The Constitution of India (Article 47) directs the state to consider raising the level of nutrition and standard of living of its people and improvement in public health among its primary duties.

“Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties and, in particular, the State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health” (http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1551554/)

Improvement in Nutritional status of Dalits and Adivasis is important as nutrition is vital to human development. In spite of several initiatives and interventions, sizable segment of the Dalit, Adivasi and socially excluded population are not having access to adequate nutrition .Due to serious deficits in nutritional intake among Dalits, Adivasis and vulnerable communities nutrition security eludes families and individuals.

In this context, NACDOR in collaboration with its 2100 network partners, spread across 23 states of Indian, stakeholders and duty bearers at community, district, state and national level has launched a National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity with actions at the grassroots, block, district, state and national level. State level Nutrition Campaign Committees have been formed for deepening the campaign for realizing nutrition security for Dalits, Adivasis and excluded communities in the state of Madhya Pradesh for taking up the issues of Nutrition with Dignity for SCs / STs and other vulnerable groups in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is well known that successful State Nutrition Campaign strategies would involve careful efforts to combine knowledge, technology, expertise, participation of nutritionally families and households, institutional capacities, management skills, learning, and practical experience for generating optimum results. NACDOR believes that this would not be possible without proper collaboration among diversified stakeholders.

State Level Networking through Madhya Pradesh State Steering Committee for National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity is initiating and maintaining contact with individuals and CSOs , exchanging learning, sharing experience , cooperating for advocacy on the village level implementation of food and nutritional security related programs and support each other for realizing the common goals and agree to work together to achieve those goals. State Nutrition Campaign Committee is a group of Dalits , Adivasi, women and minorities led organizations, individuals working together to achieve advocacy goals and through appropriate changes in policy, laws, or programmes for Nutrition

Security with the participation of academicians, Nutrition Experts, Institutes, Agencies, etc towards deepening the campaign for realizing the goals of f Nutrition Security for from the perspective of gender justice and inclusive justice leaving none behind in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

Social audits at the panchayat level is an important process that generate actionable learning and this is the reason, social audit has been envisaged in the NACDOR led National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity.

Section 2. Context of Social Audit with specific focus on Nutrition Security of Dalits, Adivasis & Minorities

Social Audit is a powerful tool for 360 degree evaluations consisting of the examination of record , learning on the entitlements, uptake of entitlement. Social audit in the village of Manikadar was conducted for understanding the implementation of ICDS ,PDS and MDM with special reference the delivery of entitlements as part of the grass root action under National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity for mainstreaming Nutrition Security of Dalits , Adivasis and minorities in the National Agenda of Action. Reewa is one the district chosen in the sate of Madhya Pradesh for intensive panchayat level action to ensuring 100 per cent delivery in quality, quantity and access for the benefits and services for children in the age group of 0-18, pregnant and lactating mothers and adolescent girls and people from SC and ST backgrounds under food and nutrition related schemes.

Section 3. Objective of Social Audit

Objective of the social audit was the following:1. to find the gap between the provision of the food and nutrition security

related schemes and its delivery with special focus on Dalits and Adivasis.2. To make people aware on the provision of the schemes3. To meet the beneficieries and learn on deficits in uptake of entitlements

and its reasons4. To present the findings on deficits to a Jury consisting of impartial

community, civil society leaders for action on administrative and policy gaps found during the social audit

Section 4. Process of Conduct of Social Audit on Nutrition schemes with inclusion & gender perspective – when started, who all involved, where contacted and whom approached, letter to different groups, stakeholders engagement – how & what they have contributed, Social Audit Team and their involvement.

Social audit consisted of the processes including aware meetings, data collection, training of the social audit groups, conduct of gram sabha and then conduct of public hearing followed up submission of demand on complaints and demands for redressal. NACDOR initiated the process with the district leaders

Figure 1Ejaz Ahmad Khan on the left with Dr.M.Mukhtar Alam, Senior State Advocacy Coordinator, NCND, NACDOR

and leaders of the panchayat in the village contacting the district administration, block level officials, civil society organizations, press , children, women and youths in the month of April. After the awareness meetings and seeking information through a survey format enclosed, GramSabha was organized for discussing on the issues on 28 April, 2014. NACDOR representative met the district administration, invited block level officials, press for public hearing. Letters were delivered inviting block officials to the public hearing. Social Audit team was formed and trained.

Gram Sabha as part of social audit process was organised under the chairmanship of Aijaz Ahmad Khan , the Sarpanch. Mr Achchelal explained about the purpose of social audit and informed all who did not know him as one who had met children, women and people in this village in this regard. Dr. M. Mukhtar Alam informed on NACDOR, the campaign in the national context , its origin in the realisation of NACDOR on the issues of serious deficits in the nutritional status of children belonging the Dalits and Adivasis due to neglect in planning and discrimination and corruption in delivery. Discussions in the Gram Sabha showed that teachers in the school are not teaching the children . Mr. Sadho Prakash is the only assistant teacher and rest are guest teachers.

Mr. Aijaz Ahmad Khan informed that Akhand Pratap Singh who is responsible for EGS at Kota middle school is more interested in the activities of GayatriPariwar rather than teaching. He assigns Hriday Narayan and leaves the school. Informing on the PDS, Mr. Khan informed that for families having red card under Antodaya scheme, people are getting 28 kg while they should be receiving 30 kg. For the blue card holders who are to be given 35 kg, they are receiving 10 kg rice and 10 kg wheat. Thus PDS dealer is stealing 5 kg each of wheat and rice that is to be giving to Blue card holder BPL families. Kerosene oil has not been given for the last three months. According to Mr. Khan old age pension recipients are to receive 5 kg per month , workers under MukhyamantriMazdoorSurakshaYojna are to receive 5 kg each ,but they had not received any food grain till the date of public hearing. Also , those among the Dalits and Adivasis who do not have any card are to receive 5 kg food grain per person per month. 40 such families do not receive any food grain.

Savita Devi informed that sahayika is not visiting homes to collect the children. Brahmin led group is cooking the food for anganwadi considering the fact that the group led by a kol lady did not want a Basor women cooking the food. Acchelal and Dr. Mukhtar Alam asked the group to ensure that untouchability within Dalit and Adivasi must be eliminated. They explained that Basor women

were adopting the cleanliness in the same way as all who had access to water were keeping clean like everyone. Ram Rati informed that

Figure 2Dr.M.Mukhtar Alam, Meeting the Press Representative at NACDOR office, Dabhaura, Reewa explaining NCND and NACDOR social audit processes for making district of Reewa Malnutrition Free

children from her tola have not been given any service by the Anganwadi. Kusum Kali is not receiving panjiri and khichri for her four year old girl child. She informed that due to her demanding , Ms. SiyadulariCharmkar has stopped speaking to her .Informing on the utensil and glass, Ms. Kusum Kali said that these are not there. Toy are not given. Quality of cooking is not good ,according to Kamla. Rice, daal is not cooked well and there is lot of salt.Gram Sabha concluded with the decision for attending the public hearing. Mr.Ram Naresh collected the signature of the meeting and the Gram Sabha meeting was coordinated by Mr. Achchelal under the chairmanship of the Sarpanch, Mr. Ejaz Ahmad Khan.

In the informal discussion, Ajaz Ahmad Khan showed about this initiative for granting the land entitlements to Dalits and Adivasis for which panchayat was authorised to resolve and request the revenue officer. His initiative is commendable. On the first day of visit to the village, I had found him resolving the 20 year old dispute for land demarcation among title holders. The land is important for letting landless households access to nutrition. There is a need to work with Sarpanchs for making them oriented to allot land to landless removing

illegal encroachment by upper castes. He informed that encroachers are angry with him as he is working for allotment of 250 acre of land that is not allotted and outside the forest land. He showed the panchayat book where there is a provision for creating colonies through panchayat and getting the same registered by the revenue officer who

must respond within 30 days of application of the panchayat. Meeting with the press was held in the afternoon. Press release circulated in attached.

Jan Sunwai (public hearing) as the culmination of the social audit process in the village of Manikadar, of Jawa block in district Reewa , Madhya Pradesh was organisedon 29 April, 2014 under the chairmanship of NumberdarKol , Manikadar with the participation of a Jury consisting of Smt. Sakhia Devi, Ward member, Manikadar ,Aijaz Ahmad Khan , the Sarpanch, Jagdish Singh Yadav of PanchsheelSewaSansthan and Madhya Pradesh BhoomiAdhikarAndolan, Mr. Chotelal, NACDOR activist, Ram Naresh Yadav, a nutrition activist , Ms. SiyaDulari, a CSO leader and Ms.Janmatma, activist journalist and editor of BahiniDarbar.

Government representative included Mrs. UshaTripathi, Supervisor of ICDS for Reewadistrict , Mr. Deepak , In charge , primary school , Ms. SiyadulariCharmkar, Anganwadi Karyakarta, Anganwadi Sahayika, Mr. Prem Kumar Mishra, PDS dealer for village based at Kota village and Mr. Lalji Mishra representative of the women’s group supplying food for the primary school. Since ,Anganwadi worker had not reached in time, Mr. UshaTripathi asked her on phone to reach in five minutes. She was excusing herself saying that she was ill and therefore not able to reach . After receiving the threat of Supervisor for recovery of all the goods, she managed to reach when the testimonies were made.

Mr.Achchelal informed on the social audit group members and their names and they were introduced to all. After introduction of the group, Mr. Acchelal informed on the provisions of MDM, PDS and ICDS . Sharing the finding of social audit group, he informed that Anganwadi issues as follows:

Average opening of the anganwadis for 12 days only for uneven distribution of the panjiri and khicri

No toys given to children as per the testimonies Sahayika is not bringing the children Adivasi Children of the Ward number 6 (a tola )are left out completely with

zero service of the Anganwadi Women delivering in the maternal place not given supplementary nutrition All children not weighed for growth monitory Anganwadi found closed on 27, 28 April with not even Sahayika reaching

there at the Anganwadi Records could not be checked due to closure of anganwadi on all the

occasions of the visit of the social audit groups Utensil are not given to children

MDM issues were shared as below: For the 75 children enrolled food is cooked for 65-70 as per the

attendance Quality of cooked food is not good. Rice, daal is not cooked well. There are time insects are found in the cooked food and children have

thrown the food. Primary school does not have a functional toilet, door is broken, urinal is

there for girls but loo is in dirty condition. Water arrangement for the toilet has been removed by the Sarpanch

Food is cooked as per the menu but quality is an issue Teaching in the classroom is not proper Two classrooms are there with one classroom having classes 4 and 5 The building of the school has not been painted for many years due to

non-availability of the maintenance grant No boundary wall is there for the primary school

PDS issues were shared as below: As against the provision of 30 kg , people are receiving 28 kg for the red

card For the blue card people are receiving 10 kg rice and 10 kg wheat per card

Figure 4Malkhan, Class V student testifying on the quality of Mid Day Meal at Manikadar

Workers under MukhyamantriMazdoorSurakshaYojna are not receiving 5 kg per person per month

Pension recipient are not receiving 5 kg per person per month Dalits and Adivasis under the Right to Food having none of the card are

not receiving 5 kg per person per month Kerosene oil has not been received for the last three month Sugar is reduced to one kg

On hearing the issues, testimonies were given by Sakhia Devi Kol, Rachna Devi Kol , Krishna KumariKol,Nathia Devi Kol, Anand ,class 3 student , Malkhan ,Class 5 student and officials representing the delivery of services responded.

UshaTripathi informed on the time of the Anganwadi and how Sahayika must collect the children from homes. She rebuked the Anganwadi worker who reached late for public hearing only after having been threatened punitive action by the Supervisor.Dr. M.Mukhtar Alam called for support to Sahayika considering the long distances within

the village.

Figure 3 Public Hearing with Women and Men Sitting seperately atManikadar

Mr. Ram Das Deepankar ,the school teacher informed on the Mid Day Meal functioning saying that for the enrolment of 75 children food is cooked for 70 children and supplied by the women’s group. For the handpump, he said that the same would be repaired before the school reopens. Mr. Lalji Mishra representing her wife leading the women’s group assured the quality issues would be addressed and children would not have problem. Dr.Alam informed about the provision of the Mid Day Meal scheme informing on the suggested addition of 50 gram each for children in primary and upper primary school along with the addition of 12 gram ghee for enhancing the nutritive value of food.Mr. Deepankar informed that untouchability was not being practiced at his school. Basor children were eating with all.

PDS dealer Prem Narayan Mishra called salesman locally informed that panchayat secretary has not completed feeding of on the names for those who

are not receiving foodgrains. As soon as feeding is completed, he would be giving all as per the allocation. He said till now, all were given as per the allocation. He called for reporting for village of Chiraura where 40 upper caste men have received BPL card.

Sarpanch Ejaz Ahmad Khan promised facilitation of the feeding through the panchayat secretary who was delaying the feeding of data on the beneficiaries. He said, tehseeldar should have been here for getting the work done. Panchayat Secretary despite promising did not reach the public hearing. Sarpanch complained that panchayat secretary had not met him for long time.Jury members called for following:

Expediting feeding of data and issue of cards for the beneficiaries Sarpanch would be visiting the Anganwadi on the coming Tuesday

ensuring the distribution of the supplementary nutrition Mothers should be cooperating in sending the children and demanding

best service from Anganwadi Mothers whether deliveries their babies elsewhere should be receiving the

supplementary nutrition. Social Audit Group in cooperation with the Sarpanch would be monitoring

the delivery of full range of services to Anganwadi Children should be collected by Sahayika regularly and habitations being

spread over three kilometres mothers should be also cooperating in sending the children

Anganwadi worker should be ensuring dignified treatment for all pregnant and lactating mothers.

Mothers delivering at her mother’s place should never be refused supplementary nutrition.

Sarpanch should be empowered to give the Utilisation certificate for food served for children at Anganwadi

Head teacher should be empowered to give the Utilisation certification for the women’s groups in order to ensure delivery in quality of the Mid Day Meals.

Eliminating untouchability practiced by Dalit and Adivasis for Bansal community men ,women and children engaged in bamboo based crafts and pig rearing

With participation of more than 200 men and women , the public hearing concluded with the resolution on the issue for land titles for people who have constructed homes in the government land till 2011. The dynamism, involvement

of women, children and men in the village from among Dalits, Adivasis proved the huge demand for the services .Public hearing proved an occasion for sharing the pent up grievances. Overall conduct of the public hearing was coordinated by Acchelal with the support of Dr. M.Mukhtar Alam ensuring expression of grievances and responses from all sides

including that of children who were the primary recipients for the benefits.

Figure 5People returning from Public Hearing with the picture of primary school in the background

On the land rights, gram sabha resolution was made for Dalits and Adivasis on the land that they have been using without having certificate for acquisition. Resolution was signed by the Sarpanch for which application needs to be made for issue of certificate by Tehseeldar for Dalit and Adivasi who are settled there and using the land for cultivation.

CG Net service 08050068000 number was used for relaying the news. The news is heard by the government and action is taken. Ms.Janmatma of BahiniDarbar recorded the statement of Dr. Alam and Ejaz Ahmad Khan for the three minute news recording that is heard by all engaged in activism, government and others interesting peoples issues and governance. Mr. Acchelal in the evening also recorded the news on Jan Sunwai and findings.

Returning from the village after public, Dr Alam and Achchelal visited village Gaunta and enquired about the status of Anganwadi, PDS and school. Villagers informed that ration was not made available for the last two years. Mini Anganwadi was not functioning at all with a local being the Anganwadi worker who was neglected. Sonam Adivasi did not go to school after passing class 5 from the primary school. Dr.

Alam and Achchelal encouraged her to take admission in Dabhaura middle school and requested elders in the village to keep on working for continuation of education for all Adivasi children so that they could benefit from reservation and get jobs in government.Attached press release was made and given to Mr. Gulab Dwivedi for circulation along with two representative pictures.

Section 5. About the Gram Panchayat – Demographic Data - Situation of Nutrition specific schemes and functioning of Panchayat.

Manikadar village is part o the Kota panchayatin falls under Jawa block with the population figures as below:

S.No Name of BlockPopulation

General SC ST Total1 Jawa 92946 23918 26798 1436622 Teonthar 112641 22061 29265 1639673 Sirmour 145618 28858 28422 2028984 Gangev 119171 25344 14706 1592215 Hanumana 108956 23298 31824 1640786 Mauganj 93476 19932 13760 127168

Figure 6Sonam Adivasi in village dropped out from Class V in village Gaunta, Jawa Block, District -Reewa,MP

7 Naigarhi 83945 21232 7592 1127938 Rewa 245218 38722 21527 3054679 Raipur Karchulian 129972 26550 19211 175733

Total 1131943 229915 193105 1554987

Meetings have shown that nutrition situation is not perfect for all children, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating mothers. In the village, there are habitations that are not being reached by the Anganwadi.

Section 6. Findings of Social AuditSchemes

Major Findings / Issues Jury Decisions Responsibility

ICDS Average opening of the anganwadis for 12 days only for uneven distribution of the panjiri and khicri

No toys given to children as per the testimonies

Sahayika is not bringing the children

Adivasi Children of the Ward number 6 (a tola )are left out completely with zero service of the Anganwadi

Women delivering in the maternal place not given supplementary nutrition

All children not weighed for growth monitory

Anganwadi found closed on 27, 28 April with not even Sahayika reaching there at the Anganwadi

Records could not be checked due to closure of anganwadi on all the occasions of the visit of the social audit groups

Utensil are not given to children

Sarpanch would be visiting the Anganwadi on the coming Tuesday ensuring the distribution of the supplementary nutrition

Mothers should be cooperating in sending the children and demanding best service from Anganwadi

Mothers whether deliveries their babies elsewhere should be receiving the supplementary nutrition.

Social Audit Group in cooperation with the Sarpanch would be monitoring the delivery of full range of services to Anganwadi

Children should be collected by Sahayika regularly and habitations being spread over three kilometres

Karyakarta to and Village Nutrition and Health Committee to be pursued by NACDOR

mothers should be also cooperating in sending the children

Anganwadi worker should be ensuring dignified treatment for all pregnant and lactating mothers.

Mothers delivering at her mother’s place should never be refused supplementary nutrition.

Sarpanch should be empowered to give the Utilisation certificate for food served for children at Anganwadi

MDM For the 75 children enrolled

food is cooked for 65-70 as per the attendance

Quality of cooked food is not good. Rice, daal is not cooked well.

There are time insects are found in the cooked food and children have thrown the food.

Primary school does not have a functional toilet, door is broken, urinal is there for girls but loo is in dirty condition. Water arrangement for the toilet has been removed by the Sarpanch

Food is cooked as per the menu but quality is an issue

Teaching in the classroom is not proper

Two classrooms are there with one classroom having classes 4 and 5

The building of the school

Head teacher should be empowered to give the Utilisation certification for the women’s groups in order to ensure delivery in quality of the Mid Day Meals.

Eliminating untouchability practiced by Dalit and Adivasis for Bansal community men ,women and children engaged in bamboo based crafts and pig rearing

School Management Committee and Sarpanch to be pursued by NACDOR

has not been painted for many years due to non-availability of the maintenance grant

No boundary wall is there for the primary school

PDS As against the provision of 30 kg , people are receiving 28 kg for the red card

For the blue card people are receiving 10 kg rice and 10 kg wheat per card

Workers under MukhyamantriMazdoorSurakshaYojna are not receiving 5 kg per person per month

Pension recipient are not receiving 5 kg per person per month

Dalits and Adivasis under the Right to Food having none of the card are not receiving 5 kg per person per month

Kerosene oil has not been received for the last three month

Sugar is reduced to one kg

Expediting feeding of data and issue of cards for the beneficiaries

Panchayat Secretary to be pursued for action by NACDOR

Section 7. Testimony and Case StudiesPoor Quality of Food Served in the Primary School ,Manikadar with waterless Toilet presents a huge challenge for the Success in MDM and Anganwadi functioning needs to improve for success in ICDS. Malkhan is a class 3 student at Primary School in the village of Manikadar in the Kota panchayat of Jawa block in Reewadistrict ,Madhya Pradesh. The village does not have direct road to reach there and one must either use cycle or walk for reaching the village. From Dabhora, there is way through the forest land diverting from past Guanta village that can be used by cyclists and motorcyclist through a way that is uneven. Here on 27th April, social audit team consisting of NACDOR representatives, community leaders and civil society leader found

children some of whom were found chewing bread for lunch. The image remains alive in the minds and shows how children belonging to Dalit and Adivasi families on a day when school is closed and when Anganwadi is closed are forced to have inadequate nutrition. Needless to say, mere chapatti is not good for nutrition. When the team spoke to children, and adolescent girls in the villages, it was found that Anganwadi was not open for the day and children in the school were not getting good quality food. Quality of pulses was always bad and mothers informed that children used to reject the food given at the school. Malkhan shown in the picture is one of the child who complained of the poor food and testified in the public hearing that was organized on 29th April in the presence of the Jury members and more than 150 people from the village. Toilet of the primary school was not in proper condition .Water connection had been removed and the building of the school having two rooms only had not been painted for many years.J

Anganwadi functioning has been much below the benchmarks. SiyadulariCharmkar could not reach in time for the public hearing despite having an assurance for the same. She could reach only after a stern warming issued orally by Ms. Usha Sharma who had reached for the public hearing following the instruction of the district magistrate, Reewa. Ratan Devi, an Adivasi complained that her habitation had remained unreached by the Anganwadi. The newly constructed Anganwadi presents a hope for children provided full range of services are delivered. Social audit processes received all the cooperation from Mr.Ejaz Ahmad Khan, the Sarpanch of Kota panchayat who has been working for the ownership certificate for land being used by Dalits. Despite being from the minority religion community, he has the confidence of majority of Dalit and Adivasi villager. Understanding the importance of perfect delivery under ICDS, he called for bringing ICDS under the control of Panchayat specially through getting the UCs signed in order to ensure best delivery of nutrition for children in the age group of 3-6 who are to receive breakfast and lunch in addition to non-formal education at the centre.

Ejaz Ahmad Khan leads Kota Panchayat with sheer good work for Dalits and Adivasis in the village. Sarpanches of the gram panchayats should be awarded for expediting application for ownership certificates to Dalits ,landless across the castes and religions on the land that they have using for living and farming in the rural areas. Revenue department should be expediting acceptance of the panchayat resolutions made in this regard. Ejaz Ahmad Khan, sarpanch of Kota panchayat at Manikadar village has presented several applications in this regard for which he has been awaiting acceptance of Tehseeldaar . Ejaz Ahmad Khan, a posterity of ShaheedNooruddin who defeated Panna army for King of Reewa needs to be saluted. Here is the picture of Ejaz Ahmad Khan here whose hospitality and cooperation during social audit would remain memorable .He is a model Sarpanch who is endeavoring for land rights to Dalits and Adivasi through using the provisions of Panchayat Raj Act. He showed the relevant section of Panchayat Act that he was using for

applying for seeking titles for Dalits. On 27 April,2014 whenDr.M.Mukhtar Alam visited Manikardar village of Kota panchayat in Jawa block of Reewa district, he found him presiding over the resolution of a 20 year old land dispute with the help of Patwari whom he had called for 'seemankan' of the land that was in dispute. It would be fortuitous forNDA led government and Ministry of Panchayati Raj to award all such Sarpanches with Krishna Award in the memory of Lord Krisha who fought for land rights of Pandavas.

Section 8. Expected Follow up of the Social Audit at Manikardar

Letters with the complaints and demands have been submitted to the block officials. Report would be submitted to the Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development. Follow up social audit after the completion of the first round of social audit in the six identified panchayats would show the results more concretely in service delivery.

Section 9. Learning’s’ of Social Audit

Learning of the social audit are many. Some are noted below: Sarpanch of Kota panchayat needs to be assisted in the work for delivering

ownership rights for land used for habitation and farming Primary school needs to be repaired and government of Madhya Pradesh

needs to create better facilities. The social audit process was the first in the village and therefore as an

instrument for making local governance institution ,this is the most powerful tool for making people in the village raise their voice.

The presence of NACDOR representative from New Delhi or from outside makes a huge difference in generating responsiveness from the government officials

Speaking gently and touching the untouched generates power. Reaching out to children from communities considered ‘low’ makes a huge

difference in building the confidence of the communities Social audit ensures bridging inclusion deficits through generation of all

grievances Social audit team needs to be proactive in listening to those whose voice

gets muted due to the presence of some people belonging to so called upper castes.

Women speakers in deference to local customs need to be specially attended for sharing their stories and grievances.

Encouraging children to speak in the Gram Sabha and Public Hearing makes children confident and forthcoming in sharing their stories on delivery of quality, quantity and access for the entitlements

Social audit processes vindicates the project vision and the major thrust of NACDOR and NCND for mainstreaming Nutrition Security of Dalits and Excluded groups in National Agenda of action.

Convergence model for reaching the malnutrition prone households gets more and more salient.

Section 10. Conclusion

Social audit process in the village of Manikadar was historic. All the dutybearers, beneficiaries, senior citizens, women and children came together to discuss and depose respectively in the Gram Sabha and Public Hearing. More social audits would be beneficial in ensuring 100 per cent delivery in quantity, quality and access.

Press Coverage:

Scan Copies of the letters as part of follow up: