J&K govt all set to introduce Panchayat Development Index

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Government is all set to introduce Panchayat Development Index to develop and replicate best practices that drive improvement across the socio-economic themes of Panchayats.
“The Panchayat Development Index is being introduced under the newly approved Aspirational Panchayat Development Programme (APDP),” an official spokesman said.
“The identified Panchayats will be given special focus to saturate inclusive development schemes which would serve as model Panchayats”, he said.
He said the J&K Government will select the most backward 285 Panchayats (One Panchayat per Block) under APDP for holistic development.
An array of key parameters for preparation of Panchayat Development Index to rate various Panchayats of Jammu and Kashmir on socio-economic indicators concerning lives of the people residing in the rural areas has already been identified.
This exercise will be taken on the analogy of Aspirational Block Development Programme being implemented by the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
A total of 100 measurable indicators have been identified across 9 sectors of Agriculture and allied Activities (6 indicators), Health and Nutrition (11), Education (13), Rural Development and Sanitation (7), Beneficiary-Oriented Schemes (4), Skill Development (4), Basic Infrastructure (17), Environment (5) and Good Governance (33), which will give insight into existing status and incremental progress over a period of time.
On the basis of importance of these sectors, weights will be assigned to each sector and sub-indicators as per relevance in the life of rural population.
These Aspirational Panchayats will be developed through convergence of various ongoing District / UT Schemes and Centrally Sponsored Schemes / Programmes.
Besides, an additional financial assistance of Rs. 10 lakh will be provided to the selected Panchayats under the scheme for its further development after achieving saturation in several parameters like Soil Health Cards, Land Pass Books, Kisan Credit Cards, Shram Cards issued to eligible labourers, 100 percent Institutional Births,100 percent vaccination of children in the age group of 9-11 months, Zero Percent Out of School Children, 100 percent Solid Waste Collection and Treatment, Aadhaar Seeding with MGNREGA Cards, Issuance of Golden Cards under PMJAY SEHAT, he added.
About 285 most backward Panchayats will be selected from 4291 Panchayats of J&K (One Panchayat per Block), on the basis of least aggregate score obtained on the selected 100 parameters in the Panchayat Development Index in the block concerned.
The data will be analyzed in PD&MD and most backward panchayat in the block will be identified, the details of which will be shared with all respective District Development Commissioners for authentication”.
Moreover, access of people of these Panchayats to various schemes available for development of the poor will be improved/saturated which will bring overall improvement in their living conditions. This will be a move forward towards inclusive development of these areas ensuring benefits to the last man in the last row.
UNI