Laying thrust on comprehensive economic development of villages in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Universities across the state to act as 'agents of change' for complete transformation of rural and agrarian economy.Interacting with the Chancellors/ Vice Chancellors of the Universities across the state, while presiding over a review meeting of Integrated Village development program here at Punjab Bhawan this morning, the Chief Minister said that though due focus has been given to the general development of the villages but process of economic development of rural areas have lagged behind. He said that the need of the hour was to give a boost to economic development of every rural household for making a ‘prosperous and progressive Punjab’.
Badal said that for it the universities could play a vanguard role by formulating impact assessment report of the villages, with the thrust on agriculture and allied farming sector. The Chief Minister said that majority of population in the villages was directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture so besides looking into all the other aspects of development, the universities must explore all ways and means to make agriculture and allied farming sector a profitable venture. He said that as the farmers of the state were facing an acute agrarian crisis so the Universities should make concerted efforts to evolve such techniques through which the income of the farmers could be supplemented. Likewise, Mr. Badal said that purposeful and quality education along with guidance to unemployed youth of the villages for gainful employment must also be other areas of concentration.
The Chief Minister said that under the Integrated Village development program the state government aims to make the Universities a partner in the Punjab’s rural growth. He said that as per the program universities would nurture five villages adopted by it with the fulsome support and cooperation of the state government and submit a report regarding the loopholes in the implementation of its scheme and policies besides suggesting the remedial measures.Badal said that the major thrust of the scheme was to improve services under core sectors of Health, education, agriculture and allied farming, water supply and sanitation, sports and skill development & employment.Satisfied by the preliminary report submitted by the universities regarding the works being done by them in five villages adopted by them, the Chief Minister said that the beginning was very good and hoped that desired target would be achieved soon. He announced to hold the review meeting of this program every month so as to give much needed fillip to it.
Mr. Badal also appointed Secretary Higher Education Mr. Anurag Verma and his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema as the nodal officers of this prestigious program.Prominent amongst other present in the meeting included Cabinet Minister Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra, Additional Chief Secretary Mr. Suresh Kumar, Financial Commissioner Revenue Mr. KBS Sidhu, Special Principal Secretaries to Chief Minister Mr. Gaggandip Singh Brar and Mr. KJS Cheema, Secretary Higher Education Mr. Anurag Verma, Secretary Health Mr. Hussan Lal, MD Markfed Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, MD Milkfed Mr. Manjit Singh Brar, Special Secretary Education Mr. Chander Gaind, Acting Vice Chancellor of IK Gujral Punjab Technical University Mr. Rakesh Verma besides Chancellors and Vice Chancellors of the universities.