Former Health Minister and senior Congress leader Balbir Singh Sidhu has strongly condemned the Punjab government’s decision to provide an honorarium of ₹10,000 per month only to Sarpanches while ignoring Panch members, Block Samiti members, and Zila Parishad members. He said that for the development of villages and resolution of public issues, not only Sarpanches but also Panchs, Block Samiti members, and Zila Parishad members play an equally important role.
In such a situation, why has the government given preference only to one category and discriminated against other elected representatives? Sidhu stated that if the government truly wants to strengthen Panchayati Raj institutions, it should formulate a policy based on equality and justice for all elected representatives.
Providing benefits only to a selected group goes against the spirit of democracy and will create dissatisfaction among other representatives. He demanded that if the Punjab government can provide ₹10,000 per month to Sarpanches, then justice should also be extended to Panchs, Block Samiti members, and Zila Parishad members.
He questioned what fault Panchs have that they have been excluded from this decision, and suggested that Panchs should be given at least ₹5,000 per month, while Block Samiti and Zila Parishad members should be given ₹15,000 per month. Sidhu also said that directors of cooperative banks should be given an honorarium of ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 per month, considering their public service responsibilities.
He added that all elected representatives associated with rural and cooperative institutions play a key role in development work, and therefore discriminating by favoring one group is not justified.