Villagers also give migrants chance to work as panchs

Three migrant labourers, who had contested the panchayat poll as panch from Jalandhar, have been elected.

While Vinod Muni, who was contesting against another migrant labourer Ranjit Muni from Sanghowal, has been elected panch, from the same village, migrant Pawan Kumar had been elected panch unopposed.

Interestingly, from Fazalpur village, Inder, who has been elected as panch, doesn’t even have a pucca house. He wants to dedicate his tenure to the progress of the village.

At Sanghowal, the predominant jatt community and the substantial migrant community had fought shoulder to shoulder with each other.

Vinod Muni, who was the last panch as well, had promised the village’s progress and ensuring amenities to people.

Even as results were declared, migrants panch canddiates and village sapranch Kulwant Singh as well as panchs distributed sweets and celebrated together.

Village resident Rajinder Singh said, “There is no difference between the two comnunities. We are all together. The farmer can’t survive without workers. We work together. At fields and at homes, they are our extended family. The village has sizeable population of over 800 migrants and the election of our panchs is a collective victory for all of us.”

Vinod Muni, who won as panch, says, “My aim is to work with the people and fulfil the promises which have remained unaddressed.” Pawan Kumar said, “I pursue contract farming and have brought my kids here. I’m thankful to the village and the community for the position.”

Inder (35) from Fazalpur village in Kartarpur works at a potato store and has an earning of a mere Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 per month.

Hailing from Saharsa district in Bihar, Inder says, “I will dedicate my tenure as panch to ensuring that people get all basic amenities.”