Punjab Minister Calls on Panchayats to Champion Drug-Free Villages and Grassroots Development

The Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Mr. Aman Arora urged the Panchayats to resolve disputes at the village level amicably. He also invited the Panchayats to join the “Nasha-Mukt Punjab Mission” by making their villages drug-free.

He was addressing the district-level oath-taking ceremony at Fakkar Baba Daamu Shah Sports Stadium in Luhara village, where he administered the oath of office to 2,486 newly elected panchayat members (Panchs) from 340 gram panchayats in Moga district.

Mr. Aman Arora congratulated the newly elected panchayat members and urged them to rise above parochial considerations and political factionalism for the overall development of the villages. He also emphasised that the Panchayats should focus on improving the quality of life in rural areas by encouraging citizens to actively participate in the decision-making process, which will help address local issues more effectively.

Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has initiated a new era of development in health, education, employment, and public welfare sectors. He encouraged the panchayats to take the initiative to transform their villages, thereby making Punjab and Punjabi culture proud. He also highlighted the importance of utilising MGNREGA funds for community projects and generating employment opportunities.

Mr. Aman Arora said that the Panchayat system can play a vital role in strengthening grassroots democracy by empowering local self-governance. It allows communities to make decisions that directly affect their lives, giving villagers, including women and marginalised groups, the opportunity to voice their concerns. Additionally, Panchayats serve as a forum for amicably resolving local disputes and conflicts, which helps reduce the burden on formal judicial systems and promotes social harmony. This local governance structure is essential for fostering community engagement and ensuring that development initiatives are aligned with the needs of the people.

MLAs Davinderjit Singh Laddi, Manjit Singh Bilaspur and Amritpal Singh Sukhanand also addressed the gathering. Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal, SSP Ajay Gandhi, and other officials were also present during the event.