Page 21 - PDI Vol 2

Policy for incentivization - Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been incentivizing best performing Panchayats
through National Panchayat Awards. These awards have been revamped and launched during the year 2022 aligning to
all 9 Themes for GPs and for State/UT/District and Block Panchayat recognizing their important role at these levels, to
encourage innovative action of global relevance, and Institutions to support LSDGs. Support to GPs for PDI etc

measures and interpretation, may be considered in future.
GPs would seek to move up grades and better their PDI and Thematic scores, because they see their benefit in it. It is

their life and they can see the impact of their actions and their inter se scores, and its changes. But by nature,
competition brings a fillip to the whole process of development. If awards alone are the motivation, then most will be
not motivated. Because currently they are only very few States that have introduced awards and there are less than 50
GPs awarded at National level. It is more for the States to adopt a suitable recognition process and award systems as
has been explained in the LSDG Expert Group Report, providing for recognizing changes and using the ranges of

scores for this.
Extra weightage for innovative actions - The definition of innovative action would need to be clear to be able to

say that this is Innovative. Initiatives, Special initiatives, and Innovative action, are perhaps the work done that is
needed for improvements and progress, go beyond to become little more to catch the eye and be spoken about for more
to follow, and reach the level of extraordinary, that are exceptions that stand out, and are recognized by awards, or
become best practices in innovation respectively. MoPR’s recognition of Carbon neutral panchayat in NPA is one such

initiative. Bringing these into a points system is in this beginning stage felt not possible. However, it is for all levels and
stakeholders interested in LSDGs to identify such initiatives and see that they receive due recognition and reach more
GPs for action through replication.

Block and District Panchayat performance for incentivization - The Committee felt that given the differences in
devolution across States, the assessment of performance of Block and District Panchayat needs greater depth and
discussion. At present the action taken by BP and DP to enable incremental progress in PDI for its GPs can be
considered for assessment. MoPR is presently having in the NPA, awards for Block and District Panchayats. The

correlation between the devolution, the action taken on PDI resulting in positive changes and parameters of NPA may
be examined to decide on this. Strong correlation to actions that reflect in the PDI will both enhance the attention on
PDI, as well as provide an objective basis for assessment.

Capacity building - Capacity building for PDI is sine qua non. It is not just the GP President and GP Secretary
who need to be covered but also to be covered are local level functionaries regarding the LSDGs, GPDP, LIF and PDI,
involvement of PRIs as per guidelines of the schemes, the joint advisories and follow up letters and work, & the roles
and responsibilities as stakeholders. In the process of preparation of this index, their role with data sharing, validation

and understanding the indicators, Themes and viewing the index, and interpretation, especially in relation to their work
and for the progress in the GP, is important. MoPR as outlined in its vision document should utilize the potential of
ward members (Panchas) as sector enablers by building their capacity in various thematic areas to be resourceful for
PDI. Field trainings need to be conducted for all the ward members in a saturation mode in the SDG sectoral areas so
that they can actively participate in local planning for achieving SDGs

MoPR needs to develop modules for training on PDI, covering data collection in Panchayat and relevance of line
department, on how to analyze PDI data and include its inputs in preparation of GPDP, VPRP, and Department’s plan.

CSOs, and others with interest to work with the GPs also need to understand this to orient their work.
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