Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu advocates nine parameters to achieve LSDGs

ITANAGAR, April 24: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has advocated nine parameters to achieve the set localized sustainable development goals (LSDGs) based on the sustainable development goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations for the development of villages in the state. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a three-day training programme of trainers commemorating National Panchayati Raj Day at the DK Convention Centre here on Monday, Khandu said that the nine parameters as prescribed by the state’s department of panchayati raj provide a perfect road map for the panchayats to plan and implement developmental projects for their respective segments.

The nine parameters include a clean and green village, a water-sufficient village, a child-friendly village, a healthy village, a poverty-free village, a self-sufficient infrastructure village, a socially secured and socially just village, a village with good governance, and a gender equality “In accordance with the 17 SDGs adopted by the United Nations, of which 15 are relevant for Arunachal Pradesh, the state government has been preparing the state annual budgets to achieve these goals. Likewise, the PRIs can now plan to achieve these nine parameters prescribed in the LSDGs for the wholesome development of villages,” the chief minister said.

Informing that Rs 123 crore was accorded to PRIs last year, of which 75 per cent is a basic grant and 30 percent is a performance grant, Khandu said in this year’s budget the fund for panchayati raj has been increased to Rs 143 crore. The state cabinet under Khandu had formally decided in September 2021 to devolve powers to PRIs in the state, which had been pending for the last 53 years.

Khandu informed that the devolution of powers was based on the SPICE (sustainable, participatory, inclusive, comprehensive, and empowerment) formula devised by the panchayat department. He further informed that 10 percent of the state’s own resources, in addition to finance commission grants, are being accorded to PRIs. “In fact, there is no dearth of funds with the state government. Things are not progressing well because the planning system is not perfect yet,” he pointed out.

Khandu reiterated his suggestion for the convergence of similar schemes and programmes involving different departments into one and executing them at the grass-roots level. “In the last few years, we have created many important infrastructure projects in our towns and cities, especially in Itanagar. But I will be wrong as a chief minister if I claim that Arunachal Pradesh has developed. Only when our villages are sustainably developed can I say that the state has developed,” he said. For the development of the villages, Khandu pointed out that the sole responsibility lies with the panchayati raj institutions.

The chief minister asserted that the state government, with the support and guidance of the central government, is committed to developing each village in the state. He cited the recent visit of Home Minister Amit Shah to Kaho, the ‘first’ village on the Indian side of the LAC in Anjaw district, where he launched the Centre’s ambitious scheme, Vibrant Village Programme (VVP). “All villages along the border, which are significant in number with Arunachal’s long international border, will be fully developed with all basic facilities. Similarly, we will develop all other villages through the convergence of state and central government schemes and programmes,” he said.

The three-day training programme will educate 225 trainers, including officers and PRI members, from across the state on 27 subjects divided into eight sessions. Experts have been invited as resource persons for the training programme. Besides launching the booklet on LSDGs, Khandu visited the LSDG-model village set up at the venue that illustrates the nine parameters for wholesome development of a village in convergence mode. He also interacted with self-help groups and discussed ways of boosting cooperation for the further development of tribal art.