National Panchayati Raj Day Address
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day, highlighted several initiatives taken over the past decade to empower rural governance and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the grassroots level.
Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI)
- The Ministry of Panchayati Raj recently launched the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) as a significant step towards localizing SDGs.
- PAI ranks over 216,000 panchayats based on progress in areas like poverty alleviation, health, water sufficiency, infrastructure, and governance.
- It emphasizes the crucial role of rural local bodies in India's sustainable development agenda.
Current PAI Results and Challenges
- Not a single panchayat has reached the "achievers" category.
- Only 699 panchayats are classified as "front-runners," with significant regional disparities
- Gujarat: 346 front-runners
- Telangana: 270 front-runners
- Tripura: 42 front-runners
- Several states are lagging in panchayat performance.
Role and Challenges of Panchayats
- Panchayats, being the closest tier of governance to the people, can tailor strategies to local needs.
- Challenges faced include:
- Inadequate Financing: Panchayats rely heavily on government funding, with limited revenue generation from local taxes and fees.
- A study by the Reserve Bank of India showed an average revenue of ₹21.23 lakh per panchayat in 2022-23, with only 1.1% from local sources.
- Limited Technological Infrastructure: Impedes effective monitoring and reporting.
- Fragmented Efforts: Lack of coordination among government departments leads to duplication and resource wastage.
Recommendations for Empowering Panchayats
- Enhance institutional capacity through targeted training and fostering digital inclusion.
- Facilitate community participation in decision-making processes.
- Ensure timely devolution of funds to panchayats.
- Improve coordination between different government departments and schemes for holistic development.