Planning Deptt, RDD to come out with framework shortly
Step to help ascertain impact of CSSs at grass-root level
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 21: For the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, Panchayat Development Index is being prepared on the lines of District Good Governance Index and the task has been assigned to the Planning, Development and Monitoring Department and Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that after ascertaining the success of development of District Good Governance Index, the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has decided to come out with Panchayat Development Index in the next few months so as to ascertain impact of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs) at the grass-root level.
The issue of preparation of Panchayat Development Index was discussed in numerous high-level meetings and latest deliberations were held few days back in a meeting of the Administrative Secretaries chaired by the Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta.
Accordingly, the Chief Secretary has directed that the Planning, Development and Monitoring Department shall develop a framework of Panchayat Development Index in consultation with the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj within a period of one month, sources informed.
Moreover, the Chief Secretary has directed that few officers should be designated to assist in developing this index. “On the lines of District Good Governance Index, some sectors, indicators and data points will be identified for the Panchayats and Panchayat Development Index shall evaluate a base score of each Panchayat and keep stakeholders— District Officers, PRI functionaries, frontline workers etc motivated towards improving index through a real time monitoring feature”, sources further informed.
Panchayat Development Index (PDI) will be a vital statistical tool to capture movement in development at grass root level and to witness impact of Centrally Sponsored Schemes at Panchayat level, sources said while disclosing that an exercise in this regard has already been set into motion by both the departments which have been assigned the task and after identification of sectors, indicators and data points necessary consultation with the stakeholders will be held before finalizing the index.
Highlighting other objectives of Panchayat Development Index, sources said that this step will help the Government in capturing the development and movement in development at grass root level; to ensure rapid transformation of Panchayats by focused intervention in key areas; to monitor outcome indicators on real time basis in key sectors and to generate positive competition among Panchayats.
Moreover, the index will help in strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) by participatory approach in planning process, increasing capacity building of BDC Chairpersons/Sarpanchs and sensitize them about other key areas of development— Health, Education, Agriculture, Skill etc instead of rural development sector only.
Further, the Panchayat Development Index will keep Government functionaries motivated towards outcome indicators in their respective areas and to help in adopting multi-sectoral approach through convergence, integration and focused attention.
According to the sources, the Chief Secretary has further directed the Planning, Development and Monitoring Department to develop a framework of Aspirational Panchayats on the analogy of Aspirational Districts and Blocks in consultation with the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj within a period of one month.
Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary has observed that the deployment of visiting officers to the Panchayats during Back to Village Programme should be the first of a series of visits and the concerned Visiting Officer shall be designated as Prabhari Officer for the concerned Panchayat.
He has further directed that the Prabhari Officer should undertake quarterly visits to the assigned Panchayats to maintain a continuous relationship with the people and communicate their issues with the local administration/line departments for ensuring redressal of minor grievances locally besides chasing the identified deliverables—dissemination of information regarding Jan Bhagidari, issuance of land passbooks, saturation of golden cards etc.
Moreover, Dr Mehta has directed for inspection of Panchayats virtually once in a month preferably on first Monday of every month. The General Administration Department will issue necessary orders in this regard.
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