Chhattisgarh Secures Second Position Nationally for Online Social Audit Through ‘Panchayat Nirnay App’

Raipur, November 20

Chhattisgarh has recorded a notable achievement in digital governance by securing the second position in the nationwide implementation of the Panchayat Nirnay App. The recognition marks an important step in strengthening Panchayati Raj institutions and advancing transparency and administrative efficiency across the state.

The initiative has been taken as a major step toward ensuring complete transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA). To make the social audit process digital and error-free, the Government of India launched the Panchayat Nirnay App. Acting on the Union Government’s directives, the state, under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai and the guidance of Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma, has made notable progress and moved ahead of several digitally advanced states to claim the second position.

In the first-phase pilot, each development block was required to onboard at least one gram panchayat’s gram sabha on the app. Chhattisgarh displayed strong responsiveness and has so far uploaded the complete proceedings of gram sabhas of 2,409 gram panchayats out of the state’s total 11,693.

The app, developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, aims to digitise decisions, proceedings, and resolutions of gram sabha meetings and make them easily accessible to citizens. The state’s Panchayat and Rural Development Department has worked in mission mode to ensure effective and full implementation.

Chhattisgarh continues its efforts to ensure that every panchayat benefits from e-governance tools. The state considers this second-place ranking as a beginning and is working toward attaining the top position soon, in line with its broader vision of building a digital Chhattisgarh.

*All information of Gram Sabha to Be Available Online*

Through the app, videos, photographs, documents, minutes registers, attendance records, and findings of previous financial year audits of gram sabhas held under the social audit process will be uploaded online. Provisions have also been made for uploading meeting agendas, registration of invited participants, and verification of quorum. Citizens will be able to view this data through reports available on the MGNREGA website.

*Purpose and Need for the App*

Social audit is an important mechanism for verifying the ground-level reality of works carried out under MGNREGA and the financial expenditure related to them. In earlier years, this work was documented manually, often leading to incomplete or inaccurate recording of decisions and objections raised during gram sabhas. The Panchayat Nirnay App addresses these problems.

Complaints often surfaced that proper procedures were not followed in gram sabhas during social audits. The app requires the mandatory upload of geo-tagged photographs and videos, confirming that meetings take place as scheduled. Real-time digital documentation ensures that findings, financial discrepancies, and grievances raised by villagers are recorded immediately, preventing any scope for later alterations. Since the decisions taken by gram sabhas are made available online, residents now have unprecedented visibility into local governance.

*Continuous Monitoring of Gram Sabha Decisions*

Decisions taken during gram sabhas, including any assessments or recoveries approved, will be uploaded to the app. Senior officials will be able to directly review the status of action taken on these decisions. Digital documentation reduces paperwork, speeds up administrative work, and saves time.

Citizens will be able to access gram panchayat decisions at any time and from any location. Tamil Nadu currently ranks first, having uploaded social audit proceedings from nearly 72 per cent of its gram panchayats. Chhattisgarh, despite a 46 per cent vacancy rate in its Social Audit Unit, has succeeded in conducting online social audit proceedings in 21 percent of gram panchayats, placing it ahead of Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha and Telangana, and others.

Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma has congratulated all department officials and staff, stating that the achievement reflects the government’s commitment to extending the benefits of good governance and technological innovation to the last person. He said the successful implementation of the app strengthens the spirit of gram swaraj.

Niharika Barik Singh, Principal Secretary, Panchayat and Rural Development Department, said the achievement is the result of coordinated teamwork, regular training, and timely resolution of technical issues. She added that the department will continue its efforts to expand the app’s usage.

Providing further details, Panchayat and Rural Development Secretary Shri Bhim Singh said that the use of technology is essential for corruption-free MGNREGA implementation and for strengthening Panchayati Raj institutions. The App not only brings transparency to the social audit process but also ensures that every concern raised in gram sabhas is recorded and acted upon in time.

Director of the Chhattisgarh Social Audit Unit, Dr. Jitendra Singraul, said the accomplishment is a reflection of the state’s commitment to good governance and transparency. He stated that social audit is the backbone of any scheme, and through the Panchayat Nirnay App, the state has ensured that decisions taken in gram sabhas, villagers’ objections, and audit findings are preserved in digital form and monitored at higher levels.