Punjab Government has dissolved all the 12,775 panchayats in the state thus paving ways for election. Announcing the dissolution of the all the panchayats Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra said that the election process would be completed before May 31. Addressing a press conference at Vikas Bhawan, Mohali he said that notification for the election might be issued within a week.Mr. Rakhra reiterated the Punjab Government's resolve to ensure free and fare election in the state adopting transparent and candid means. He said that strict instructions have been issued to the officers in this regard. He said that after the dissolution of panchayats BDPOs, Panchayat Officers and JEs have been conferred administrative powers so that day to day works of village may not suffer. The Minsiter directed the officers concerned to take the relevant documents and funds from the out going Sarpanchs.Mr. Rakhra further said that Punjab Government has constituted 399 new Gram Panchayats, 4 Panchayat Samaties and 2 Zila Parishids considering the reasonable demand of people. With this new entry now election for 13110 gram panchayats, 145 Panchayat samaties and 22 Zila Parishids would be conducted. The Minister said that 13110 panchayats are comprised of 81631 wards, out of which 18515 wards are reserved for Schedule Castes, 9821 for Schedule Caste ladies, 18929 for Ladies, 3241 for backward classes and 30825 for General category. He said that Panchayat Samities are comprised in 2732 zones, out of which 617 zones are reserved for Schedule Castes, 311 for Schedule Caste Ladies, 590 for Ladies, 1183 for General and 31 for Backward Classes. Whereas 22 Zila Parishids in Punjab are comprised of 333 zones, 75 zones are reserved for Schedule Castes, 37 for Schedule Caste Ladies, 71 for ladies, 147 for general category and 3 for Backward Classes.
Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra along with Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Mantar Singh Brar is addressing a press conference at Vikas Bhawan, Mohali on 12-04-2013