Sarpanches, panches take oath

Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, January 12

Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu today called upon newly-elected sarpanches and panches to join hands with the state government for ensuring the holistic development of rural areas.

He said villages were the root of our economy. He was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Sunder Sham Arora, Tanda MLA Sangat Singh Gilzian, Shamchurasi MLA Pawan Kumar Adia, Chabbewal MLA Dr Raj Kumar and Dasuya MLA Arun Dogra.

The Minister administered the oath of office to 1,404 sarpanches, 7,884 panches, 211 members of panchayat samitis and 25 members of the zila parishad, here at the grain market.

He assured full support and cooperation to the sarpanches and panches for the development of villages. The Minister said the state government was committed for putting the state on high growth trajectory.

He said: “The government has announced 50 per cent reservation for women in the elections to increase their participation in the development of their respective villages.

Minister for Industries and Commerce Sunder Sham Arora said: “Punjab is being already made a drug-free state by initiating action against drug peddlers. A drive has also been initiated to promote sports and provide jobs to youth.”

Former Union Minister Santosh Chaudhary, IGP Naunihal Singh, Deputy Commissioner Isha Kalia, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Harbir Singh, District Congress Chief Kuldeep Nanda, former MLA Luv Kumar Goldy, advocate Rakesh Marwaha, Rajnish Tandon, Raman Kapoor, were among others present.

He said the state government was committed to provide benefits under the Atta-Dal scheme to all beneficiaries, adding that the state government had ordered to recheck the beneficiaries as it had been found that there were around three lakh bogus beneficiaries.