Mainstream WeeklyStrengthening grassroots governance is a buzz word today. Over a period of time, it has been in fashion to refer to local governance in decentralised development discourse assuming it as panacea for all ills affecting locality and its residents ranging from womb to tomb. Various attempts have been made to measure local level development by using a numerous ways in different parts of the country. However, there was a demand on the part of the researchers and policy makers to have access to evidence- based results of development at village, block, district, state and national level. In case of rural area, efforts at national level have been made in the form of Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) , which has been carried out and validated in more than 2.16 lakhs Gram Panchayats (GPs) across the country. Baseline Report of PAI for the year 2022-23 released in 2025 by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India. PAI is also known as PDI ( Panchayat Development Index). This Index is a composite index based on 435 unique local Indicators with 566 unique data points across nine themes namely (i) Poverty free and enhanced livelihoods Panchayat (ii) Healthy Panchayat (iii). Child friendly Panchayat (iv) Water sufficient Panchayat ( v) Clean and green ( vi) Self-sufficient infrastructure in Panchayat secured (vii) Socially just and Socially secured Panchayat (viii). Village with good governance ( ix) Women friendly Panchayat.
In fact, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has asked resolutions (Sankalps) from GPs numbering 559292 to focus on three themes of development of their GPs out of nine themes of localizing SDGs. The All-India position of the resolutions taken by the GPs is consolidated and included in the PDI Report of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, 2023.
All-India level, GPs have adopted Sankalp across nine thematic areas, reflecting their development priorities. The highest adoption is observed under the Clean and Green Village theme, with 122371 GPs (21.87%) taking Sankalps followed by Water Sufficient Village with 116128 GPs (20.76%) and Healthy Village with 100506 GPs (17.97%), indicating a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability, water security, and public health. The Poverty Free and Enhanced Livelihoods Village theme has been adopted by 82940 GPs (14.82%), while Child-Friendly Village accounts for 66973 GPs (11.97%).
In comparison, fewer Gram Panchayats have taken Sankalps under Village with Self-sufficient Infrastructure, with 33560 Gram Panchayats (6.00%), and Village with Good Governance, with 20096 Gram Panchayats (3.59%). The lowest levels of adoption are observed for Socially Just and Socially Secured Village, with 12237 Gram Panchayats (2.18%), and Women Friendly Village, with only 4481 Gram Panchayats (0.80%), not even one per cent opted for this indicating that social justice, social security, and gender inclusion remain relatively under prioritized in grassroots planning. Overall, the distribution of Sankalps reveals an imbalance in thematic focus, with environmental and basic service-oriented themes receiving greater attention than governance, social equity and gender - sensitive development. It is very disheartening to note that almost no importance was given to the theme of Women friendly Village, which is the lowest in the list at merely 0.80%, the next lowest being the theme of Socially Just and Socially Secured at 2.18%; and if these two put together give a dismal picture of understanding of priority for the marginalised groups in the village. The Village with good governance is also at the lowest at 3.59% acknowledging Good governance is not necessary for delivery of all themes of SDGs and also possible without indulgence of 50% of female population. It is become more serious while in more than 50 per cent State 50 % reservation has been given to women in Panchayats. Another conclusion emerged from this phenomenon that either women were not aware about their issues to be tackled or they were not participating in the meetings of the Panchayats.
Experiences show and studies done in the field of rural governance and development if governance of the GP is effective then development of all sectors ranging from agriculture to maintenance of common assets might be in order and better. Then what is to be done. Two aspects may be addressed giving more importance governance in the system of functioning of panchayati raj. First, meetings of the ward sabha, gram sabha, GP, sub-committees constituted at GP level should be held as per provisions of Panchayati Raj Act, rules and bye laws. Secondly, Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) should also be prepared, financed, monitored, and evaluated as per its guidelines. GPs should take sankalp to put in place governance which in common parlance is use of rule s and regulation in letter and spirit. If so happened, it will take care of all indicators of Localising SDGs not only implementing various programmes effectively but also preparing plan for economic development and social justice including 29 subjects listed in the 11th Schedule of the Constitution in real sense. Hence, awareness generation among elected representatives and officials of Panchayati Raj Institutions and their capacity enhancement for understating local governance is need of hour.
(Author: Dr. Mahi Pal is IES (retd) Email: mpal1661[at] gmail.com)