Khanna, 17 October, 2024: Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond announced today that the Punjab Government will provide a special grant of Rs 5 lakh to each unanimously elected panchayat. He made this announcement while addressing members of the newly elected panchayats in the Khanna subdivision of the district.
As a first-time MLA from Khanna who joined the Punjab Cabinet less than a month ago, Sond expressed confidence that the peaceful completion of the election process would lead to an acceleration of development works in rural areas. “With the elections behind us, we are set to boost the pace of development in our villages,” he said.
This announcement follows an earlier statement by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who had urged people to elect sarpanches unanimously and promised the government’s commitment to empower local governance and strengthen rural development. Mann had outlined a plan to allocate resources to support panchayats in their development initiatives, ensuring that local leaders have the necessary tools to foster growth in their communities.
Sond also raised the government’s commitment to placing Punjab on a path of high growth. However, he stressed that this vision would only be realized if the newly elected sarpanches and panches actively participated in the development of their respective villages. “The efforts of the state government will bear fruit only if you contribute generously to the cause of all-round development in your areas,” he added.
In addition to the financial support for panchayats, the minister mentioned that the Punjab Government has launched a campaign aimed at making the state drug-free by taking strict action against drug peddlers.
“Now, the panchayats must ensure their villages remain free from this menace,” he asserted, urging local leaders to take an active role in this critical initiative.
