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continuity to ensure delivery and monitoring would be issues. the Theme that they chose, or from the 3 Themes that they have
So wherever such dynamism is there, for the period they are chosen, plus others they think are important. So, in this
there, something extra and focused may take place. That cannot interpretation, Mandatory and Priority would overlap.
be the basis at this point to become the basis for deciding Mandatory makes it the basic minimum indicators that are a
priorities, across the country. Most important however to must for the GP. And as they work on it, the numbers can be
consider is that none of these can take specific GPs grassroot increased in the next year, either from the MoPR guideline or
realities into account, but is more the overarching needs and by the State if they go beyond the MoPR number, or by the GPs
goals. It is necessary that the role of local self-government and themselves, who may choose more.
the specific needs in GPs are given priority locally and the
This selection of indicators, and numbers selected, when
space to be in the frame of the GP and recognized
monitored, can help identify and support all GPs that are
systemically. The Committee feels that the deciding of Priority
working on, and encourage those that are not working and
Indicators be consciously left to the GPs. The technical platform
needing extra support, and give special recognition to those
to be evolved and the capacity building programmes should
working beyond the Mandatory number. The MoPR needs to
provide for this and the latter must emphasize this. This would
integrate this, into the eGramSwaraj, GPDP, NPA, Sankalp and
be in line with strengthening the PRIs, policy and spirit of the
Capacity building for GPs, and the RGSA guidelines and
constitutional amendment. In the technical system of PDI to be
implementation, to mention the key ones.
developed, while calculating the value of PDI, separate
calculation of value of PDI on Priority Indicators set can be Gram Panchayat freedom of choice for their
made to differentiate the position with respect to these, getting priorities and the mandatory number of
indicators can bring them into an assessment
focus to areas needing attention.
framework, which also can be put on a
Mandatory Indicators comparison for ranking and recognition.

Mandatory indicators are a call that would be for basic
minimum choice to be worked on by all Gram Panchayats. The Further, with Gram Panchayat freedom of choice for their
Mandatory indicators would be a sub-set of the LIF, and which priorities and the mandatory number of indicators, it can bring
indicators they would be, should be left to the GPs. them into an assessment framework, which also can be put on a
comparison for ranking. Here, the numbers of additional
GPs must make a choice to work on a indicators beyond mandatory numbers that the Gram Panchayat
minimum number of Indicators, making this
the interpretation of Mandatory. works on can be given points. The choice must be in terms of
those indicators which lead to an improvement in score of the
Theme by a certain margin, and this can vary from GP to GP.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj hence may insist that GPs must
This use of Mandatory Indicators would probably throw more
make a choice to work on a minimum number of Indicators,
light on beacon GPs and those that may be in lowest position. In
making this the interpretation of Mandatory. Surely, when GPs
case of the latter, the GP needs to be supported consciously by
have to involve themselves and work on such numbers, the
the Departments and District administration for those chosen by
changes one can see will also be in as many numbers of
them. (Consider the Aspirational Districts Programme of NITI
indicators. Perhaps in a year there must be a choice of 100 that a
Aayog and the impact it has on the most backward districts for
GP must make. LSDG at GP level, considering the 577
pushing their progress. The GPs within those districts may well
indicators (including 161 sub-indicators) would be inevitably
be the choice for them in this next level of Indicator
touched within 5-6 years and substantial achievement levels
Framework. Undoubtedly, the figures of the District and the
reached by 2030. Seen in the 9 Theme frame, it is just 11 per
aggregate of GPs for the District would resonate).
Theme per year. If it is a Sankalp on a Theme it would be all in

PDI Committee Report - 2023: Panchayat Development Index 59