Bhubaneswar: The poor state of affairs of panchayats in Odisha seems proving a drag on the State’s lackadaisical development. The Panchayat Advancement Index has ripped open the underbelly of rural development in the State.
More than half (a whopping 57%) of panchayats in the State could score only C-grade in the Panchayat Advancment Index released by the Union Ministry of Panchayati raj.
With a whopping 6794 panchayats in the State, a high of 3,882 have been awarded c-grade in PAI released Thursday.
The PAI scorecard further reveals only 4 Panchayats in the State have been rated as frontrunner, and a handful of 21 out of 6794 have been rated as performer.
The PAI has measured the performance of over 2.5 lakh Panchayats in the country, including in Odisha, on the themes of localized Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) such as
- Poverty-Free and Enhanced Livelihoods in Panchayat
- Healthy Panchayat
- Child-Friendly Panchayat
- Water-Sufficient Panchayat
- Clean and Green Panchayat
- Panchayat with Self-Sufficient Infrastructure
- Socially Just and Secured Panchayat
- Panchayat with Good Governance
- Women-Friendly Panchayat
70% PANCHAYATS PARCHED
Notwithstanding over 76.64% of households now having tap connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the stark reality to the fore is a massive of 70.3% panchayats in the State are rated as parched panchayats – not having water sufficiency.
The PAI shows only 0.4% of panchayats in State have water sufficiency; in contrast 2.9% Panchayats have been awarded the D grade – means where water shortage is very acute.
The PAI shows 26.4% of Gram Panchayats have somewhat water sufficiency.
1.7% PANCHAYTS IN ODISHA FULLY WOMEN FRIENDLY
The PAI shows a handful of the gram panchayats in the State could score A grade in the yardstick of women friendly.
The data shows only 1.7% of GPs could score grade A. On the other hand, 1.5% of GPs are not women friendly.
Moreover, a high of 27.6% of GPs have a score of Grade C, which indicates how a significant number of panchayats are lacking in the women friendly barometer.
However, data shows 69.2% of panchayats have a score Grade B.
INFRASTRUCTURE WOES HIGH
The PAI shows GPs in Odisha are acutely lacking in self-sufficient infrastructure. While a high of 21.4% of GPS fare poor in the yardstick by scoring below 50% score, another 74.2% could score only Grade C.
A miniscule of 4.4% GPS in Odisha have score Grade B. None failed to make a mark with Grade A.
47% PANCHAYATS LACK GOOD GOVERNANCE
Another shocking fact to the fore is, when over 51.2% of Panchayats in the State have scored Grade B in the good governance yardstick, a high of 36% scored a C-grade, and another 11% score the D. Only 1.5% GPS have come with flying colours with an A grade.
97% PANCHAYATS UNCLEAN
Notwithstanding the Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan, a whopping 47% GPs in the State failed in the parameter of clean and green panchayat, whereas another 50% GPs scored a C-grade, displaying the pathetic state of Swacch Bharat Abhiyan in rural Odisha.
OTHER TIDBITS
- 18.9% GPs poor in child friendly Panchayat
- Odisha scores good in Healthy GPs (75% scored A)
- 11.4% Panchayats still grappling with poverty.
- 59.4% GPs are not socially just and secured.
