Additional Secretary Arun Baroka takes stock of Rurka Kalan in Jalandhar

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 10

Arun Baroka, IAS, Additional Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Water Power, Delhi, visited Rurka Kalan village here on Monday.

He also visited Gaddiwalas’ place of living and talked with them. The Additional Secretary also appreciated the Rurka Kalan gram panchayat for the various projects undertaken in the village.

The gram panchayat, which has developed toilets for members of a tribe settled in the village, is one of the rare panchayats which is undertaking projects to rehabilitate poor tribe people without designated land or houses in their village.

Arun Baroka said in the future he would like to extend help to the gram panchayat in every possible way.

On the occasion, KS Saini, Chief Engineer, Department of Water Supply and Sanitation, NP Singh, Superintendent Engineer, Water Supply and Sanitation, Jalandhar circle, and Rakesh Sharma, State Coordinator, Department of Water Supply and Sanitation, Mohali, were also present on the occasion.

Notably, since the Panchayati Raj came into existence in Punjab, the Government of Punjab and the Government of India have been sending funds from time to time to village panchayats for the development of villages. The present gram panchayat of Rurka Kalan village has also been undertaking various such development projects.

The village is very famous for its freedom fighters as well as sports organisation. For the last 50 to 70 years, migrants have been living in Rurka Kalan who are locally called Gaddiwalas. The gram panchayat has constructed toilets for them in view of their basic needs. The toilets have been built right by the shanties and settlement of the said tribe.

The gram panchayat has constructed separate toilets for men and women and another two bathrooms for washing clothes. A sum of over Rs 7 lakh was spent on the building of the toilet complex. Of the total amount, Rs 2.1 lakh was from the Swachh Bharat Gramin Mission and a grant of Rs 90,000 is from the 15th Finance Commission. The YFC, Rurka Kalan, has spent over Rs 4 lakh on the project.

Nekki (main leader of Gaddiwalas) said, “The gram panchayat and the YFC solved our problems, for which we all are very grateful to the gram panchayat and the YFC, especially to sarpanch Kulwinder Kaur and president Gurmangal Dass.”

One rare panchayat

The gram panchayat, which has developed toilets for members of a tribe (Gaddiwalas) settled in the village, is one rare panchayat which is undertaking projects to rehabilitate poor tribe people without designated land or houses in their village. The gram panchayat has constructed separate toilets for men and women and another two bathrooms for washing clothes. A sum of over Rs7 lakh has been spent on the building of the toilet complex.