GIDDERBAHA, May 27— The Punjab government has begun disbursing the promised grant of Rs 5 lakh to village panchayats that were elected unanimously, reaffirming its commitment to incentivizing consensus-driven democracy at the grassroots level.
“The funds are now being released to eligible panchayats, and Samagh village is among the first to receive approval,” said Manjot Singh, Block Development and Panchayats Officer (BDPO), Gidderbaha. He confirmed the issuance of the official sanction letter for Samagh, where the panchayat body was elected without contest in October last year.
On Tuesday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon shared the development on Facebook, posting a photograph of the official communication from the BDPO office. “This is a step towards strengthening grassroots democracy,” he wrote.
According to the guidelines outlined in the sanction letter, the Rs 5 lakh grant must be used strictly for development projects within the village. Panchayats must obtain prior approval from relevant authorities before initiating work and are required to complete all projects within six months. To maintain transparency, documentation through photographs at various stages of the projects is mandatory, along with adherence to all existing rules and procedures.
A total of 27 panchayats in the district have been identified as eligible for the incentive.
The special grant was first announced by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann in August 2023, as an increase from the previous Rs 2 lakh reward for unanimously elected village councils. The move is aimed at reducing friction in local elections and encouraging collective decision-making.
Officials believe the enhanced financial incentive could serve both as a reward for peaceful democratic practice and a motivator for other villages to follow suit. “It’s not just about money; it’s about fostering harmony,” said an official associated with the initiative.
