Day 9 – Q 3.The attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) require active participation of the panchayati raj institutions (PRIs). Do you agree? Substantiate.

3. The attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) require active participation of the panchayati raj institutions (PRIs). Do you agree? Substantiate.

सतत विकास लक्ष्यों (एसडीजी) की प्राप्ति के लिए पंचायती राज संस्थाओं (पीआरआई) की सक्रिय भागीदारी की आवश्यकता है। क्या आप सहमत हैं? पुष्टी करें।

Introduction:

• Panchayati Raj Institution (PRIs) is a revolutionary concept to build democracy at the grassroot level.  In India it has significantly transferred the representative democracy into participatory democracy with the bottom up approach of governance.
• The sustainable development goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 global goals and 169 targets set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 for the year 2030. 

Body

• Around 68.86% of India’s population lives in rural area, which makes role of PRIs in attaining the SDGs crucial.
• The implementation of SDGs needs every country to judiciously prioritize, and adapt the goals and targets in accordance with local challenges, capacities and resources available.
• SDGs can be met only through high standards of governance at all levels. In this respect, India is especially fortunate to have highly committed governments at the central (union), state and local level. 

Role of Gram Panchayat in localising SDGs

The role of panchayats in the attainment of SDGs is summed up as follows: 

• Convergent implementation of schemes– 

• Ensure effective implementation of flagship programmes pertaining to livelihood like National Rural Livelihood Mission, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Swachh Bharat Mission etc.

               Eg The Assam governments Samagra Gram Unnayan Yojana (CMSGUY) – a    

               5-year mission to initiate investment in rural areas towards doubling

               farmers’ incomes.

• Participatory outcome based planning for local development

• • Effective functioning of the Gram Sabha as participatory discussion and decision making forum for local development.

• • Ensure coordinated functioning in tandem with Self Help Groups and their collectives o
  •  Institute outcome based planning that sets baselines and monitors advancement in development indices.

• Specific governance interventions in panchayats

• • Effective functioning of Standing Committees and Functional Committees of the panchayats 
  •  Strengthening fora for community participation 
  •  Institution of clear community based monitoring and tracking mechanisms and information feedback to the community.

• Interventions across tiers of panchayats

• • Effect convergent planning between the three tiers of Panchayati Raj 
  • Effective functioning of the District Planning Committees which link rural and urban planning 
  • Coordination for service delivery and implementation of flagship schemes.
  • Eg. The Government of Bihar’s umbrella programme titled 7 Nischay (or 7 resolves) addresses challenges in multiple sectors following an inter-sectoral approach.

The local development plans of Panchayats is expected to synchronize with attainment of identified sectoral goals. Building local leadership capacities and promoting aspirational Panchayats by enabling them to find innovative, community driven, sustainable solutions to local problems is key to attaining the SDGs at the local level.

The way ahead

It is very crucial that the Village/Gram Panchayats develop their own action plan to improve living conditions

• In rural Indian context, the living condition is linked with the practice of social justice principles. There is a need to be more inclusive in addressing the problems of people from different sections.
• Strengthening stakeholder participation in governance particularly in decision making. The various village level committees formed under different development programs – School Management Committee, , Sanitation and Nutrition Committee, Matru Mangal Samiti for Anganwadi, PDS Committee, etc. shall be strengthened so that they plan and monitor the service delivery.
• Each village panchayat must assess the status of various public assets and services with regard to its functionality.
• The gram panchayat and various committees must periodically assess all the services. Primary focus must be given to five key services: (i) anganwadi (Child care) as it has direct link with child development and curbing malnutrition (ii) primary education – it has link with universal literacy particularly among girls (iii) drinking water and sanitation – it has direct link with the health status and wellbeing (iv) access to public health services – it will improve institutional delivery and healthy life (v) access to public distribution system and food availability in anganwadi and mid-day-meal – it will address malnutrition.