Punjab To Set Up Planning Units At Panchayat Level To Ensure Over All Development Of Villages

Chandigarh, May 18, 2016: The Punjab government has envisaged an ambitious plan to ensure over all development in the rural areas of the state and create Adarsh Villages across the state. The government has also issued direction to the district level officers to make sure the implementation of this plan to be executed in true letter and spirit.
Disclosing this here today Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka, Rural Development and Panchyat Minister, Punjab said that as a part of the revamping the villages of the state, the government has also decided to establish Planning Units at Gram Panchayat levels so that the development works are closely monitored. An adequate grant according to the population of the village has been earmarked in the 14th Finance Commission, said Mr. Maluka.
Adding further, he said that public representation at village level is given so as to strengthen Panchayat Raj in the state. He also said that Gram Panchayat would formulate Development Plan at Planning Units, with Sarpanch of the respective village, Panchyat Secretary, Gram Employment assistant, Members of standing committee, Junior Engineer, Asha workers, School teachers, Horticluture, Soil conservation officers, Agriculture Assistant would be the members. Besides this NGO and retired officers/workers, Nehru Yuva Kendra and Self Help Groups would also be roped in.
Giving details of the Development Plan, he said that the plans have been formulated on the guidelines of the Centre Government where transparency in disbursing grants and also seeking suggestions from the people were the main consideration. The planning is devised keeping in mind the vital issues like, community welfare ,sex ratio, Death rate of Mother and child, Malnutrition in children and Drop-out, Social Security and Justice, Primary Education, Landless farmers, employment services, welfare of the Schedule Castes and Backward class, Health and welfare etc.
He added that the state government was firm in lifting the socio-financial status of the scheduled caste families, taking care of the older and ailing people people. The foundation of planning unit would also look into ensuring cleanliness, safe potable drinking water, setting up of playground, park, maintaining the Cremation grounds, E-Sampark (connectivity), Panchayat Ghar, Digging Ponds, Constructing pulleys, Link roads, constructing building for Anganwari centres etc.
Referring to the development on the agriculture front, Mr. Maluka said that special attention would be given to enhance production level in Agriculture produce and innovative schemes would be introduced for Poultry farming, Fish farming and animal rearing and other remunerative trades for the rural youth.