Setting a target of Rs 400 crore earnings for the Rural Development and Panchayat department in the ensuing financial year, the Financial Commissioner Rural Development and Panchayat Ms. Seema Jain today released the new Land Lease Policy of the department.Releasing the policy, the Financial Commissioner, accompanied by Director Rural Development and Panchayat Mr. DPS Kharbanda, said that the new policy envisages at enhancing the revenue of village panchayats on one hand and ensuring the holistic development of the villages on one hand. She said that the department has earned Rs 359 crore from the lease policy adding that this year the department has set a target of enhancing the earnings to Rs 400 crore. Mrs. Jain said that per the policy it would be mandatory for every Block Development and Panchayat Officer to register growth of minimum 10% while giving the Panchayat land on lease during the coming fiscal in their respective blocks.The Financial Commissioner further said that any sort of laxity in this work was totally unwarranted and undesirable. She cautioned the officers that poor performance in this work would not be tolerated and any such action would be reflected in the Annual Confidential Report (ACR) of the concerned officers.
Ms. Jain also said that she would be personally reviewing the performance of the officers in this regard. Meanwhile, chairing a review meeting of the officers of Jalandhar division, the Financial Commissioner asked them to complete the ongoing works under Smart Village Campaign. She said that the officers must evolve a comprehensive strategy for completing the works going on during the current fiscal. Ms. Jain warned the officers of serious repercussions if the work was not completed within the time frame.The Financial Commissioner also asked the officers to prepare detailed reports of the development works to be carried out in the villages falling in their respective blocks in the coming financial year. She said that this long term planning would help in ensuring holistic development of the rural areas thereby giving a major push to the overall growth of the villages and prosperity of people. Mrs. Jain also asked the officers to expedite the recovery of pending arrears of the department.On the occasion, the Director Rural Development and Panchayat Mr. DPS Kharbanda asked the officers to ensure strict compliance of the orders. He said that the officers must use the Smart Village Campaign app besides giving fillip to the ongoing development works. Mr. Kharbanda also said that any sort of callousness in development works by the officers would not be tolerated any cost.On the occasion Additional Deputy Commissioner Mr. Vishesh Sarangal, District Development and Panchayat Officers Mr. Ajay Kumar and Mr. Iqbalpreet Singh Sahota besides others were also present.