Tura: It was an audit of a different kind.

The residents of Kharkutta block in the North Garo Hills took part in a "social audit" to oversee the implementation of government schemes.

The five-day audit, which ended on Thursday, is a pilot exercise by a Rajasthan-based an association, Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), which works for the empowerment of peasants and labourers.

The social audit concluded with a public hearing in three villages of the Kharkutta block - Kharkutta Songgital, Chotcholja and Megam Akhong.

Beneficiaries, youth organisations and NGOs participated in the hearing.

The pilot exercise was initiated in the block based on the mandate of Meghalaya Community Participation and Public Services Social Audit Act, 2017, which was passed in the Assembly.

In the hearing, the detail record of implementation of different schemes and projects in the block, including that of MGNREGA, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, midday meal, integrated child development services, agriculture and horticulture were read out by the auditing agency and the public were asked to take part in the discussion.

The people, including different stakeholders, took active part in the hearing and brought out their grievances before the visiting government officials of different departments.

At Kharkutta Songgital, the people took up the issue of midday meal, which was served three days a week. They demanded that it should be given five days a week.

The employees engaged to cook the midday meal said they would do so if adequately paid.

"Our salaries are too low. So, to meet our expenses, we have to work as daily-wage labourers. It will be difficult for us to cook for the children for five days," said a mother.

The people endorsed regular and better remuneration for the cooks.

"We have learnt a lot from the exercise. It is good to hear from the public about their grievances on the implementation of schemes and problems. We are confident that through social audit we will be able to get first-hand information about implementation of a scheme as well as take corrective measures," said North Garo Hills additional deputy commissioner P.K. Boro.

External social audit expert Vineeth Bhambhu said people should be empowered with information so that they are able to assert their rights and also ensure the schemes are implemented in right earnest.