The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has released the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 Report for FY 2023–24, presenting a comprehensive nationwide assessment of grassroots governance. While the report records an impressive 97.3 per cent participation across India, Chhattisgarh has stood out by achieving 100 per cent participation, with all its 11,643 Gram Panchayats and Traditional Local Bodies submitting validated data.

Covering all 33 districts and 145 blocks, the state’s complete onboarding reflects strong institutional engagement and administrative efficiency. However, the performance distribution indicates that while participation is universal, quality of outcomes varies across categories. According to the report, 30 Panchayats in Chhattisgarh have been placed in Grade A (Front Runner category), while 3,936 fall under Grade B (Performer). A majority, 5,941 Panchayats, are categorised as Grade C (Aspirant), and 1,736 remain in Grade D (Beginner). Notably, no Panchayat from the state has achieved the top A+ (Achiever) category.

The data suggests that more than half of the Panchayats are still in the Aspirant category, pointing to the need for targeted interventions to improve service delivery and governance outcomes. At the same time, the sizeable number of Panchayats in the Performer category indicates a strong base that can be upgraded to higher performance levels.

The report identifies Jhalmala Gram Panchayat in Balod district as the best-performing Panchayat in Chhattisgarh, securing a Grade A with a PAI score of 78.77. The Panchayat has emerged as a model for effective implementation of development programmes and community-driven governance.

A detailed thematic analysis across nine development areas highlights mixed performance trends. Under Theme 1 (Poverty Free and Enhanced Livelihoods), the state has 974 Panchayats in Grade A, 4,946 in Grade B, 5,215 in Grade C and 489 in Grade D, indicating moderate progress. In Theme 2 (Healthy Panchayat), performance is relatively stronger, with 2,189 Panchayats in Grade A and 5,388 in Grade B, alongside 3,788 in Grade C.

In Theme 3 (Child Friendly Panchayat), the bulk of Panchayats are concentrated in Grade B (7,058) and Grade C (2,668), while 1,829 have reached Grade A. Theme 4 (Water Sufficient Panchayat) reflects infrastructure challenges, with 7,221 Panchayats in Grade C, 3,024 in Grade B, and 1,150 in Grade D.

Environmental and sanitation indicators under Theme 5 (Clean and Green Panchayat) show 5,249 Panchayats in Grade C and 3,845 in Grade D, indicating areas needing attention. Similarly, Theme 6 (Self-sufficient Infrastructure) has 4,205 Panchayats in Grade C and 4,109 in Grade D, compared to 2,342 in Grade B and 932 in Grade A.
A comparatively better performance is seen in Theme 7 (Socially Just and Socially Secured Panchayat), where 3,725 Panchayats are in Grade A and 6,931 in Grade B, with fewer falling in lower categories. However, Theme 8 (Good Governance) and Theme 9 (Women Friendly Panchayat) show uneven outcomes, with significant numbers still in lower grades, including 2,907 and 3,398 Panchayats respectively in Grade D.

Nationally, the PAI 2.0 framework evaluates over 2.59 lakh Panchayats across 33 States and Union Territories using 150 indicators and 230 data points aligned with nine themes under the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals. Panchayats are classified into five categories—Achiever (A+), Front Runner (A), Performer (B), Aspirant (C), and Beginner (D)—to enable benchmarking and targeted planning.

Officials noted that the findings from Chhattisgarh highlight both the success of full participation and the need to improve performance quality. With a robust data framework now in place, the state is expected to leverage the PAI 2.0 insights to strengthen planning, promote best practices, and accelerate the transition of Panchayats into higher performance categories.

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RDJ

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