Monitoring and Evaluation of Development Schemes Also Essential: HIRD Director Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan

Nilokheri, April 27, 2026: The success of development schemes is not limited merely to their formulation; rather, their continuous monitoring and evaluation are equally essential. Social audit serves as an effective tool in this regard, ensuring that resources are utilized appropriately and that the benefits reach the actual intended beneficiaries. This not only curbs corruption but also strengthens public trust. These views were expressed by Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan, Director of the Haryana Institute of Rural Development (HIRD), while addressing the inaugural session of a training program organized on the subject of social audit.

Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan inaugurated the program by lighting the ceremonial lamp. The objective of this program is to familiarize participants with the processes of social audit, as well as the principles of transparency and accountability, enabling them to contribute to the effective implementation of schemes at the grassroots level.

Dr. Chauhan said that social audit is a robust pillar of the democratic system; it not only ensures transparency in the implementation of schemes but also provides the common citizen with an opportunity to actively participate in the governance process. When society itself evaluates its own development initiatives, the quality and effectiveness of the schemes naturally enhance, thereby fostering a responsive and empowered governance system.

He further remarked that the objective of training programs is not merely to impart knowledge, but also to cultivate a sense of responsibility and leadership capabilities among the participants. The experience and insights gained by the participants through this thirty-day residential training program will empower them to effectively implement social audit in their respective fields, thereby enabling them to become agents of positive change in the process of rural development.

Vishwanath Singh, the Lead Course Coordinator for the program, stated that this training program has been structured in a manner that provides participants with practical experience of the entire social audit process—ranging from understanding the scheme and analyzing documentation to conducting field visits and organizing public hearings. Our endeavor is to ensure that participants not only grasp theoretical principles but also become fully capable of effectively implementing them at the grassroots level, thereby enabling them to strengthen transparency and accountability within their respective fields.

The program is being coordinated by the HIRD's Assistant Professor, Dr. Wazir Singh Duhan. Also present on the occasion were HIRD faculty members Dr. Sushil Mehta and Sandeep Bhardwaj, along with Senior Advisor Gurvinder Singh from the National Institute of Rural Development.