Terming panchayats as foundation of the democratic set-up, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today administered oath of office to 3,098 panches of 422 panchayats in Sangrur district at a function, organised at Ladda Kothi, about 7 km from Sangrur.
With this, the process of panchayat formation had been completed, he added. He asked panches that after going to their villages, they should first of all pass resolutions for the development of their respective villages and use government funds accordingly. He said every panchayat had the power to transform its village.
The CM said sarpanches and panches should work by rising above any political affiliations. While issuing development grants, he would also not see any political affiliations, he added.
Mann also called upon sarpanches and panches to convene gram sabhas twice a year to discuss development projects and execute the same with the villagers’ consent. He also asked panchayats to pass resolutions for the installation of solar lights, purchase of benches, setting up libraries, etc.
The CM reiterated that he had already announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for the villages electing their panchayats unanimously. He said he wanted at least one library in every village. The government had set up libraries in 26 villages of the Sangrur district so far, he added.
The CM also asked panchayats to plant saplings along the roads leading to the villages and elsewhere to make Punjab green and pollution-free. He also emphasised on the formation of self-help groups to empower women and make them self-reliant.
