CAG deploys toolkit to bring transparency in govt spends

NEW DELHI: 'Toolkit', which acquired a negative connotation with political parties associating its use for mainly spreading fake narratives, has become a potent instrument for the country's supreme auditor, CAG, for bringing transparency in public spends and accountability in delivery of govt schemes.

Called the ODK (Open Data Kit) platform, which is CAG's own end-to-end encrypted online portal, the toolkit is being used by the auditor for designing, collecting and managing data. It is integrated with CAG's own operating system called OIOS. Recently, the ODK toolkit was deployed to ascertain patient satisfaction while gathering evidence in auditing the performance of the AIIMS at Mangalagiri in Guntur district and the AIIMS at Bibinagar in Hyderabad.

"Beneficiary survey is one of the sources of information for audit planning as well as for collection of audit evidence. It is used to collect information for identifying problem areas warranting additional review," CAG said. Using the toolkit also helps CAG in launching these surveys in multiple languages at the same time.