Page 159 - PDI_Report

20-90 at Thematic LIF level and that only needs the Gram the Gram Panchayat, and they have every right to have access to
Panchayat to put its system in place. their data.

Considering also that currently the GPs deal with around 33
The list of data entry being done at Gram
Registers at GP level in the GP functioning itself (in
Panchayat level is perhaps many times the number
Maharashtra) - 5 are annual, 6 are monthly, and 22 are daily, of data points for the LIF.
having range from 5-42 columns, roughly some 478 columns
altogether. GP Presidents and Gram sevaks training program 6. Data availability
covers these and they work with them regularly. The 400 + It is clear that currently available data does not provide the
indicators going to be difficult, is unlikely. It may in fact be requisite data. It is worth mentioning that the Aspirational
quite simple and meaningful as it deals with aspects of their life Districts programme led by NITI Aayog, has chosen to actually
and to plan and work on improvements to their GP and enter/re-enter the data on 83 indicators and 81 data points,
development for them, in a structured manner of the needs and engaged manpower for it and is monitored through an elaborate
goals to be achieved. and high-level system.

4. Tough data collection exercise
There are more than 400 indicators spanning various Limiting indicators LIF & PDI to
departments. Collection of this much data can be a difficult data available is not a solution.
task, simply due to the extensiveness of the data set involving
multiple departments, and also the lack of current capacity of Limiting indicators LIF & PDI to data available is not a
local functionaries to collect this data, and readiness to share it. solution. Data collection from the owners of the data at Gram
However, the data collection difficulty can be relieved by Panchayat level, has been done for the NPA of the MoPR
fetching most of the data from various portals of the covering all Gram Panchayats for 90 indicators on the
government, and capacity building. For the NIF, MoSPI sources 9 Themes. Data collection by the Gram Panchayat in the pilot in
data from different Ministries/Department/Agencies, finds it a Maharashtra covering 30 Gram Panchayats has been done for
challenging task, but has become easier and more structured all 688 data points and 577 indicators. Data collection in the
year on year. field has shown that it is possible to make more data available.
The experience has given great learnings, and it is very clear
5. Non-familiarity with data
that this challenge can be well addressed. Putting in place a
Data is collected in an MA survey, another set is collected for
standardised system of data collection, can make data available
the preparation of VPRP by the VPRC, data is entered in
for PDI from Gram Panchayat, from administrative data and as
various portals of various Ministries, down to individual details
required, from Survey. There is no case for a reduction of
like in POSHAN Tracker, UDISE+, eGramSwaraj portal has
relevant data points and indicators due to the slow pace of
Gram Panchayat entering Gram Panchayat data, data comes into
data sharing or not making available Gram Panchayat level
PFMS. The list of data entry being done at Gram Panchayat
data through appropriate IT and other solutions.
level is perhaps many times the number of data points for the
LIF. 7. Data validation
Integrity of data needs also good mechanism of validation of
Data is not in that way new to the Gram Panchayats and
data. These can be put in place, considering the different data
functionaries. It is only in data integration from different
points to be collected.
owners (government departments), that it seems to be a
challenge. This data is of the people, works, and information in

133
PDI Committee Report - 2023: Challenges and Limitations