Page 106 - PDI_Report

For the ideas and visionaries, from theory to practise, for The lack of technical support was a challenge for the
the sceptics and critics, the Proof of Concept was a Committee and again to the full credit of the Team
necessary and central part of the work of the Committee Maharashtra, despite the repetitive process of data
that brings out the PDI. collection due to the errors, all of which in future design
can be avoided, they completed this first of its kind task.
Some of the key questions that were addressed in this
were: If we have been able to deliver on the PoC, it is thanks to
the spirit of the Team Maharashtra. The model now that
 Are the indicators too many? has come up in the PoC, is still only but a starting but
 Will there be data available at Gram Panchayat good level for use. This is thanks to The Nudge. The
level? scope & analysis that can be done is huge, only some are
indicated. Given the statistical, analytical and technology
 How difficult will it be to collect data? knowing team, PDI can provide such information that
would be of use in the Gram Panchayat, Block, District,
 Can the data be relied upon?
State and at country level for policy, programme and
 Will the Data be of use to the Gram Panchayat? targeted interactions with PRIs. The future calculations

 Can the Grouped Indicators provide an easier can go down to hamlet and household levels.
path? Measures for incremental progress need to be worked out.
Target values need to be worked out for further
 Can the PDI provide a good estimate of the level
of development of the Gram Panchayat? assessments from the baseline value that the present
calculations of LIF, Theme, PDI can throw up.
 Will the PDI calculation be a fair calculation?
To calculate Panchayat Development Index (PDI) as per
 Is it possible to factor in the differences and yet the indicators and sub-indicators listed in the Local
compare? Indicator Framework (LIF), the Proof of Concept (PoC)

 Can the block, district and State be drawn into exercise was undertaken covering 30 Gram Panchayats in
PDI? the State of Maharashtra. These 30 Gram Panchayats
spanned across 4 districts, viz., Pune, Sangali, Satara and
 Can the LIF, Theme score & PDI provide scope Solapur. Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development
for Analysis of use to Gram Panchayats? Administration (YASHADA), along with a field team of

 Can there be a Gram Panchayat level Report Card? various Gram Sevaks and other personnel, coordinated the
data collection initiative.
 Can the PDI and LIF provide the Development
Status Report for the use of the Gram Panchayat? Fair calculation

 Is the PDI of greater use than the MA survey? In the arriving at the scores, the distinction between haves
& have nots, endowed Gram Panchayats and those not so
 Will the PDI (LIF) link to GPDP, NPA?
well-placed becomes necessary to be fair in terms of the
 What sort of visualisation is possible? GIS? development status. For e.g., a Gram Panchayat with a
PHC and Gram Panchayat without a PHC, cannot be
 Will the PDI, LIF be of use to Departments in the
field? compared using PHC as the indicator. However, health
status can be compared. Whether having a PHC, gives
The credit to the Maharashtra Team led by Dr. Mallinath better health status is a matter of analysis, as health is not
Kalshetti, Member of the Committee, who took up this only a factor of PHC, but much beyond that. This can lead
PoC work/exercise. It has paved the way for the Gram Panchayats to focus on those aspects, while also
emergence of PDI in its facets for application across the presenting to the service providers, the need for evolving
country. What should be done, how it should be done, appropriate strategies for addressing the health status as
what errors can come in, what process to follow in the well as regular medical needs.
collection of data, how should the Data entry formats be Coming back to fairness in calculations, the indicators
designed, how much time will it take, what preparation that are common to all, were used as a first level of
should be made, etc., are some of the key process calculation. This gives the facts. Why it is better or worse,
questions that got answered in this.

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