Panchayat Development Index

• As part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj is spearheading the initiative to localise the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• A study on the Panchayat Development Index (PDI) has been produced to assess grassroots institutions’ progress towards attaining the Localised SDGs (LSDGs).

What is the Panchayat Development Index (PDI)?

• The Panchayat Development measure (PDI) is a multi-domain and multi-sectoral measure developed to analyse panchayats’ overall development, performance, and advancement.
• It uses a variety of socioeconomic variables to assess the well-being and development condition of local communities under the control of a panchayat.
• PDI is critical for evaluating performance and tracking progress in the localization of SDGs in rural regions.
• The Index is based on a framework of local indicators covering nine issues linked to village sustainable development.

Nine Themes of PDI

1. Poverty-Free and Enhanced Livelihood in Village
2. Healthy Village
3. Child-Friendly Village
4. Water-Sufficient Village
5. Clean and Green Village
6. Village with Self-Sufficient Infrastructure
7. Socially Just and Secured Villages
8. Village with Good Governance
9. Women-Friendly Village

System of Ranking and Grading

Panchayats are evaluated and classified into four grades depending on their scores:

1. A+: Scores more than 90%
2. A grade corresponds to a score of 75-90%.
3. Grade B: 60-75% of the time
4. Grade C: Between 40% and 60%
5. Grade D: Less than 40%

The Importance of the Panchayat Development Index 

• Insightful Analysis: The PDI gives crucial insights into areas in rural jurisdictions that require improvement.
• Identifying inequalities: It aids in the identification of inequalities and the attainment of development objectives.
• Policy Development: The Index assists in the development of targeted policies and interventions to improve the well-being and quality of life in rural areas.

Source: https://pdi.gov.in/