Tamil Nadu bags third spot in panchayat devolution index

Tamil Nadu ranks third in Panchayat Devolution Index, excelling in functions, capacity building, and accountability, according to IIPA study.

Tamil Nadu has been ranked third at the all-India level under the Panchayat Devolution Index (PDI). 

The State has received a score of 68.38 next to Karnataka (72.23) and Kerala (70.59), according to a study commissioned by the Union Panchayati Raj Ministry and conducted by the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA). 

On Friday last, the report - Status of Devolution to Panchayats in States (2024) – An Indicative Evidence Based Ranking’ - was launched by S. P. Singh Baghel, Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, in New Delhi. 

Apart from the overall PDI, Tamil Nadu has the highest score at the national level with 60.24 with regard to the dimension of “functions,” one of the six dimensions scrutinised to assess the performance of 28 States and seven Union Territories. (The National Capital Territory of Delhi does not have operational panchayats). 

The “functions” dimension has two components - functions assigned to panchayats and the  involvement of panchayats in important schemes.  Apart from devolving all core functions and other major functions to the panchayats, the State is utilising the services of the local bodies to carry out its schemes instead of unelected institutions.

Of the other five dimensions (framework, finances, functionaries, capacity enhancement / building and accountability), the State came second in “capacity enhancement/building” (84.29) and “functionaries” (84.25), and third in “finances” (55.78). In respect of “framework” and “accountability,” the scores were 66.83 and 71 respectively. 

While the national average for the overall PDI was 43.89, the figures for the dimensions of framework, functions, finances, functionaries, capacity enhancement/building and accountability were 54.29, 29.18, 37.04, 50.96, 54.63 and 47.51 respectively.