Arunachal’s Bold Push for Grassroots Democracy!

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Monday reaffirmed his government’s dedication to bolstering grassroots democracy through innovative governance and financial empowerment. Speaking at a state-level workshop on the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 in Itanagar, Khandu highlighted the state’s pioneering move to allocate 10% of its state-owned revenue (SOR) directly to panchayati raj institutions, a rare step among Indian states.

“This is real empowerment. This is walking the talk,” Khandu declared, emphasizing the initiative as a cornerstone of decentralization and self-governance. The PAI, he explained, is a robust tool designed to evaluate and enhance the performance of panchayati raj institutions by assessing critical areas such as planning, transparency, service delivery, financial management, and citizen engagement.

“The PAI isn’t just a meeting—it’s a mechanism to hold ourselves accountable and drive progress at the grassroots,” Khandu told attendees, urging them to actively engage and scrutinize the process. He also presented the PAI 1.0 Puraskar awards, recognizing top-performing districts, blocks, and gram panchayats for their exemplary contributions to strengthening democratic institutions.

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Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Ojing Tasing described the PAI as a catalyst for a “silent revolution” in rural governance, fostering a performance-driven and data-centric culture. “This is where data meets democracy, and performance defines progress,” Tasing said, noting that the index will guide decentralized decision-making and promote self-reliant village governance.

The event saw participation from Chief Secretary Manish Kumar, senior officials, panchayat representatives, and trainees, all united in their commitment to advancing Arunachal’s rural landscape. Khandu lauded local leaders for translating policies into tangible outcomes, calling them the backbone of the state’s democratic framework.

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