Introduction:Top of Form

The Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) is a Multi-domain and multi-sectoral index that is intended to be used to assess the overall holistic development, performance & progress of panchayats. The Panchayat Advancement Index takes into account various socio-economic indicators and parameters to gauge the well-being and development status of the local communities within the jurisdiction of a panchayat. The index typically considers factors such as:

• Infrastructure : Availability of basic amenities like roads, electricity, water supply, sanitation facilities, etc.
• Health and Education : Access to healthcare services, educational institutions, literacy rates, and enrollment in schools.
• Economic Indicators : Income levels, employment opportunities, agricultural productivity, and economic activities.
• Social Indicators : Poverty rates, gender equality, social inclusion, and overall quality of life.
• Governance and Administration : Efficiency and transparency of local governance, delivery of public services and citizen participation.
• Environmental Sustainability : Measures related to ecological balance, conservation, and sustainable practices. The Panchayat Advancement Index shall provide public representatives, policy makers, government agencies, and local authorities with valuable insights into the areas that require attention for improvement within the rural areas under the jurisdiction of the panchayats. It helps in identifying disparities, achievement of development goals, and formulating targeted policies and interventions to enhance the overall well-being and quality of life of rural communities. The specific indicators and weights used in calculating the Panchayat Advancement Index can vary based on the goals and priorities of the governing body or organization that develops and utilizes the index.

Purpose:

 The Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) provides

• Evidence Based Assessment – realistic assessment of Progress

• Evidence Based Planning leading to better GPDP preparation 

• Help in setting ambitious targets if GPs are nearing achievement of National / State targets

• Better method for Incentivization on developmental progress

• States/Districts can compare GPs on LSDG (thematic) and composite PDI scores – prioritizing the sectors and GPs for development

• States can compare District/Blocks for prioritizing development 

Implementation Procedure:

• Data Collection/integration from different sources – GP & Ministries/ State Department Portals

• Through PAI Portal having primary data validation checks. 

• After Validation at different levels final data is uploaded

• LIF indicator values are derived from validated uploaded data and 

• Normalized on a 0-100 scale 

• Calculation of Average of the normalized indicator values 

• Arrive at thematic scores of a GP 

• Calculate Geometric mean of all 9 thematic scores for a GP

• Arrive at PAI score of that GP