Chandigarh, February 14:
Punjab’s Rural Development and Panchayat Minister, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, has directed senior officials of the department to work diligently and honestly to achieve Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s vision of transforming the state into a “Rangla Punjab” . He emphasized that all ongoing rural projects and works must be completed within their stipulated timelines to ensure the holistic development of villages.
Chairing a review meeting at the Panchayat Bhavan with senior officials, ADCs, DDPOs, BDPOs, and various wing officers, Sond stated that villages in Punjab should be developed as model villages. He warned that delays and negligence in ongoing development projects would not be tolerated, and strict action would be taken against officials and employees found deliberately neglecting their duties.
The minister also reviewed the targets set for district officials during the department’s first meeting in January and issued necessary guidelines to ensure that all government schemes and programs reach the grassroots level. He stressed the importance of ensuring that rural residents benefit from these initiatives to maximize the development and progress of their areas.
Additionally, Sond inquired about the special camps organized in villages for issuing MGNREGA job cards and instructed officials to immediately address any shortcomings found in the process. He emphasized that every eligible individual should receive a NREGA job card to promote maximum employment in rural areas.
To ensure comprehensive rural development, the minister announced plans to conduct district-level meetings with local representatives, especially MLAs, and involve all Panchayat Department officials. He instructed that MLAs’ participation in ground-level development projects should be ensured.
Furthermore, Sond directed that panchayat lands should be leased in a transparent manner to ensure that the revenue generated is utilized for village development. He urged all officials to serve the public with dedication and integrity and set a target to complete all objectives by March 31, 2025.
During the meeting, the minister also issued instructions to accelerate the construction of Anganwadi centers, sports grounds, and projects under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural) in villages.
The meeting was attended by Dilraj Singh, Administrative Secretary of the department; Parmjit Singh, Director; Dr. Sheena Aggarwal, JDC; senior officials from the headquarters; and ADCs (Development), DDPOs, BDPOs, and officers from various wings across Punjab.
