Punjab Mines & Geology, Water Resources and Soil & Water Conservation Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal, on Tuesday, urged newly-elected Panches to develop village plans beyond factionalism, consulting common people's needs transparently and impartially. He stressed prioritizing development works, eliminating factionalism to strengthen the communal bonds. Cabinet Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal along with MLA Jaswant Singh Gajjan Majra and MLA Dr. Jamil-ur-Rahman today administered the oath of office to 1186 Panches.
Sh. Goyal suggested holding Gram Sabhas meetings as advised by former Delhi Chief Minister Sh. Arvind Kejriwal to ensure transparency in development works in the villages. The Cabinet Minister stressed, Gram Sabhas are morally responsible for preventing the misuse of public funds and promoting judicious use of funds for overall village development, inviting village representatives to collaborate with the Punjab government for comprehensive village development and maintaining communal harmony.
Sh. Goyal said that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government is committed for the progress of the state and welfare of the people and no shortage of funds will be allowed for the holistic development of the villages. "If the representatives of Gram Sabhas perform their social and moral responsibility, they can change the fate of the common people and their villages", said the Cabinet Minister, adding that the state government will accord full support to them for every noble cause.
The Cabinet Minister called upon the panchayats to eradicate the scourge of drugs from the state and said that panchayats can play vital role in getting rid of this menace. We should make efforts to save our youth without any fear, he added. Sh. Goyal said that with the support of the people, the stigma of drugs can be weed out by creating a people's movement.
He asked the representatives of Panchayati Raj to emerge as role models and join hands to save natural resources considering it as their moral responsibility. Malerkotla MLA Dr. Jameel Ur Rehman and Amargarh MLA Prof. Jaswant Singh Gajjan also spoke on the occasion, highlighting the democratic significance of Panchayati Raj institutions and their role in comprehensive village development.
They said that in these elections, panchayat representatives have been elected unanimously rising above personal considerations, which has not only strengthened community bonds and communal harmony in the villages but also ensured comprehensive village development. "Wise voters of villagers have chosen their panches/sarpanches, entrusting them with significant responsibility and the elected representatives must fulfill their duties with full dedication", said both the MLAs.
Deputy Commissioner Dr. Pallavi, SSP Gagan Ajit Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sukhpreet Singh Sidhu, Chairman of District Planning Board Sakib Ali Raja, Maler Kotla MLA's Wife Fariyal Rehman, SDM Harbans Singh, Assistant Commissioner Gurmeet Kumar Bansal, DDPO Rimpy Garg were also present on the occasion.