There were anomalies in transaction of the national commission for protection of child rights (NCPCR) in the financial year 2011-12, the office of the director general of audit has found.

According to the audit report (Governance Now has a copy of it), there were irregularities in appointment of state representatives (SR) and social audit groups (SAG) by the right to education (RTE) division of commission to conduct social audit of implementation of the RTE Act. According to the audit report, NCPCR engaged 12 district coordinators, 58 block monitors and 253 panchayat facilitators in eight states and incurred an expenditure of Rs 51.12 lakh during 2010-11 and 2011-12 without following primary guidelines of the general financial rules.

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The division started the social audit to get education officers at block and district levels take up responsibility, and fix their accountability, for functioning of schools. Unveiled in 10 states, the division started the pilot project by tying up with various civil society groups and asking people to give feedback on functioning of schools and implementation of the RTE act.

In all, 250 panchayats were to be covered in the first year for comprehensive and concurrent social auditing. In addition, they were to be assisted by a district resource person and state representative.

The division is yet to release the report.

What audit report alleges

• NCPCR engaged 12 district coordinators, 58 block monitors and 253 panchayat facilitators in eight states and incurred an expenditure of Rs 51.12 lakh during 2010-11 and 2011-12 without following primary guidelines of the general financial rules.
• Guidelines or criteria of selection of NGOs or outsourced agencies, district coordinators, block monitors, panchayats facilitators and state representatives not found on record.
• No term of reference for procedure of submission of proposal and engaging, or outsourcing qualified or desired agencies.
• Commission incurred expenditure of Rs 51.12 lakh during audit but eligibility, pre-qualification criteria, experience and suitability for providing the services by agencies or NGOs concerned not found on records.
• No CV and experience of agencies or NGOs found on record to justify suitability for the assigned work.
• Procedure followed by NCPCR in bid evaluation and selection procedure could not be ascertained.
• Guidelines related to engagement of outsourced agencies/NGOs did not incorporate requisite terms and conditions and procedures to be followed.
• Conducted in February, audit sought explanation on the circumstances in which state representatives and social audit groups were engaged.
• Letter (dated March 12, 2013) from NCPCR to the national coordinator of the RTE division points out release of funds to state representative and state audit group of the division. It says national coordinator of RTE division was repeatedly requested to send all files regarding release of these funds but all verbal requests failed to elicit a response.
• Report states the matter is being examined and appropriate decision will be taken after examination of all records and files.