The correct answer is: d) All of the above
Civil society organizations (CSOs) are non-governmental organizations that are independent of the state and the market. They play a variety of roles in society, including advocating for social and economic justice, providing social services, and holding governments accountable.
In Meghalaya, CSOs play a particularly important role in the state’s fiscal policy. They advocate for budget priorities that reflect the needs of the people, audit government expenditure to ensure that it is used effectively, and participate in the formulation of fiscal policies.
For example, the Meghalaya Social Watch (MSW) is a CSO that monitors the state government’s budget and expenditure. MSW has found that the government has not been spending enough on social services, such as education and health. MSW has also found that the government has been spending too much on non-essential items, such as travel and entertainment. MSW has used its findings to advocate for changes to the state government’s budget.
The Meghalaya People’s Forum (MPF) is another CSO that plays a role in the state’s fiscal policy. MPF is a coalition of CSOs that works to promote good governance in Meghalaya. MPF has been involved in the formulation of the state government’s fiscal policy. MPF has advocated for a budget that reflects the needs of the people and that is used effectively.
The work of CSOs such as MSW and MPF is essential to ensuring that the state government’s fiscal policy is fair and just. CSOs play a vital role in holding the government accountable and in ensuring that the state’s resources are used to benefit the people.