OUR CORRESPONDENT
ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday reaffirmed the government’s strong commitment to strengthening grassroots democracy through performance-based governance and fiscal empowerment of local bodies.
Speaking at a state-level workshop on Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 held at the D K Convention Hall, Khandu said the initiative reflects a ‘commitment to better governance from the ground up’.
Highlighting a major policy milestone, Khandu stated that Arunachal Pradesh is among the very few states in India to devolve 10% of state owned revenue (SOR) directly to panchayati raj institutions (PRIs).
“That’s real empowerment. That’s walking the talk,” he said, calling the move a tangible step towards decentralisation and self-governance. The chief minister explained that the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) is a performance-driven tool designed to evaluate and strengthen the functioning of PRIs.
The index assesses key areas including planning, transparency, service delivery, financial management, and citizen participation.
“The PAI is not just another meeting. It is a tool to hold ourselves accountable and push for improvement where it matters the most at the grassroots,” he said.
Urging administrative officers and training participants to engage deeply, Khandu encouraged a spirit of curiosity and active learning.
“Ask questions. Dig deeper. Make the most of this,” he said, adding that training can only be impactful when guided by inquisitiveness and purpose.
The chief minister also presented the PAI 1.0 Puraskar Awards to top-performing districts, blocks, and gram panchayats.
He commended the awardees for their outstanding performance and their crucial role in strengthening democratic institutions from the ground up.
“These are the institutions carrying our democracy forward,” Khandu said, applauding the dedication of PRI functionaries and local leaders in translating policy into action on the ground.
Speaking on the occasion, state Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Ojing Tasing said the PAI will play a pivotal role in transforming rural governance by fostering a performance-based, data-driven culture across panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) in the state.
Tasing described the initiative as a ‘path-breaking’ step aimed at empowering PRIs to become more efficient, transparent, and responsive. He emphasized that the index will promote a results-oriented work culture where each Panchayat is encouraged to compete, improve, and deliver better services to the people.
“The PAI is not just a metric, it’s a mindset shift. It puts performance at the heart of governance,” the minister said, asserting that stronger, more accountable panchayats are essential for the effective implementation of government schemes and for ensuring inclusive, sustainable development at the grassroots level. Tasing further noted that Arunachal Pradesh is witnessing a ‘silent revolution’ in rural transformation under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
“This is where data meets democracy, and performance defines progress,” he said, adding that the PAI will serve as a guiding framework for decentralised decision-making and self-reliant village governance.
The minister called upon all stakeholders to work collectively under the spirit of ‘Team Arunachal’ to build empowered and progressive rural communities.
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