ARI Working Paper Series

Accountability, governance and participation are concepts that are commonly encountered in development theory and practice. These concepts have been both enthusiastically embraced and critically scrutinized by academics and development practitioners. Some view the application of accountability measures as part of neo-liberal managerial practices. Consequently attempts to apply these measures from above have generated widespread suspicion amongst those subjected to them. In contrast this paper will examine attempts to promote social audit and accountability at the grassroots level through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in India. Under MGNREGA, which is one of the most extensive rights based social protection programs in the world, social auditing is mandatory. This paper will consider the different social and political contexts within which social auditing has been practiced under MGNREGA. It raises the question: Can accountability from below be viable and effective? The paper suggests both the potential benefits and limitations of social auditing and accountability from below.