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financial year with 31 March as closing date is the most data point would need to be put down while taking this into the
prevailing periodic frame for planning and assessment in the field.
Government. Accordingly, it is natural that for PDI that the
Certain figures would be more difficult to collect either as on
Reference Period is taken as 31/3 covering the year previous .
a date or for the year and would be an estimate, till a better
Hence assessing PDI in the year 2023 would be taking the
mechanism is put in place. For e.g.: Functional Toilet for
reference period as the year ending 31.3.2023.
girls/boys. The availability of a toilet presumes functional. This
There may be some glitches in adopting a common reference needs to be functional every day. The answer can be in a range
period for all indicators as for some indicators, the data may that is given to choose from and based on the range the scoring
have been recorded at a certain other date/period - for e.g.: is done and this answer is to come from the users and not all
Agriculture for the Fasli Year which is July to June. so, the users can be asked and hence it boils down to a survey for
Fasli year ending in June 2022 would be considered for the collecting the figure. If the school had a mechanism of checking
data. That is the closest standardized data period. Hence, toilet functionality (and adequacy) which are parts of the School
wherever the data is standardized for a period by the Development and Swachh Bharat Mission Program, that can
Department which is the source of data, that period falling provide the information in the Reference Period of the school
before 31.3 of the year for which the PDI is being calculated year, or for the period 1/4-31/3.
would be taken. This is common for all Gram Panchayats and
Required clarification on Reference Period for
by being common, puts all on the same reference period for that
each data point would need to be put down
indicator. Required clarification on Reference Period for each while taking this into the field.

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PDI Committee Report - 2023: Panchayat Development Index 68