Conduct gram sabha sessions from June 15, Punjab panchayats told

Ludhiana, June 13

Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal today called upon all panchayat members to hold gram sabha sessions in their respective villages between June 15 and 26 across the state.

Speaking at a seminar on the role of gram sabhas in rural development at Punjab Agricultural University here, Dhaliwal asked panchayats across the state to join hands with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led state government to revive and uphold the rich legacy of gram sabhas in the state. There are around 13,000 panchayats in the state.

Stressing the need for revival of gram sabhas to bring about socio-economic change, Dhaliwal said all proposals and resolutions passed during the session would be accepted by the government and requisite funds would be made available to villages concerned within a short span for development works.

He said 65 per cent of the state’s population lived in villages, thereby holistic development of the state could not be imagined without the development of rural Punjab, adding the mission could not be achieved without active participation of panchayats.

Sharing government’s vision to improve the social and economic situation in villages, the minister said the government had embarked on two missions i.e. rescue of panchayat lands and revival of gram sabhas in the state.

Over 5,500 acres had been freed from illegal occupants across the state and drive would continue till every inch of government land was taken back. The minister also lashed out at previous state governments for the deteriorating the condition of Panchayati Raj institutions in the state and reiterated his commitment to reviving these.