In news– In Rajasthan, a state-wide campaign has been launched to demand that the social accountability law be passed in the next Assembly session.
Reasons for the campaign-
- The state constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the former state election commission, Ram Lubhaya, to advise the government on the drafting of the Social Accountability Bill in September 2019.
- The committee strongly emphasised the need for a legal framework to guarantee accountability to the citizens and highlighted the limitations in the existing administrative system which prevented timely delivery of services.
- The State government is yet to take action on the report submitted by a committee in February 2020 along with the draft of the proposed statute.
- The law once passed gives people the right to file grievances on account of violation of any policy, guideline, programme, legislation, citizens charter and get dated acknowledgement receipts.
What is Social Accountability (SA)?
- It refers to a wide range of actions and mechanisms that citizens, communities, independent media and civil society organizations can use to hold public officials accountable.
- Components of social accountability practice include collection, analysis and dissemination of information, mobilisation of public support, advocacy and negotiation for change.
- Social audit is a tool for social accountability and transparency.
Principles of SA-
- Information.
- Involvement and participation of citizens.
- Time bound action.
- Protection of Citizens.
- Citizen’s right to be heard.
- Collective Platform.
- Report Dissemination.
Source: The Hindu
