Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday virtually laid the foundation stone of construction of 500 modern Panchayat Ghars and Common Service Centres across the state at a cost of Rs 125 crore.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that the project to construct Panchayat Ghars and Common Service Centres (CSCs) in Punjab is being started from the holy land of Fatehgarh Sahib. He said that in every village with a population of more than 2800, a Panchayat Ghar and a Common Service Centre will be constructed adding that the cost of constructing a Panchayat Ghar will be Rs 20 lakhs and that of a Common Service Centre will be Rs 5 lakhs. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in the first phase 500 villages, both Panchayat Ghars and CSCs are being constructed.
The Chief Minister said that those villages have been selected where no Panchayat Ghar exists so far adding that this project will bring many facilities to the villagers. He said that the Panchayat Ghar will not just be an office but a central hub for discussions and planning for village development. Similarly, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Common Service Centres will become the backbone of the digital revolution in villages, helping villagers access various online services.
The Chief Minister said that in today’s digital era, services like applying for government schemes, getting admission to educational institutions, creating Aadhaar cards or passports, and many more are available online. Hence, he said that these CSCs will play a crucial role in making these services easily accessible to the public. Bhagwant Singh Mann also expressed hope that this project will provide panchayats a common platform to come together and take collective decisions.
The Chief Minister bemoaned that though Panchayats are called the foundation of democracy, but earlier, there wasn’t even a proper place for them to sit. However, he said that now Punjab is witnessing complete transformation in every sphere as the work of common man is being done. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that 90% of households in Punjab are receiving zero electricity bills, which has provided huge economic relief to the public.
The Chief Minister expressed pride that canal water has now reached even the remotest villages at the tail ends of the state adding that since assuming charge of office, the government has revived 15,947 water channels across Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that unemployment is the root cause of several social problems due to which the state government is focusing on eradicating this malady and so far around 55,000 government jobs have been provided to the youth. He said that the jobs have been provided completely on the basis of merit to the youth and that too in a transparent manner.
The Chief Minister said that the drug mafia was patronized by the earlier governments but his government has launched a crusade- Yudh Nasheyan Virudh against drugs. Bhagwant Singh Mann said meticulous planning has been done to wipe out the menace of drugs from the state and now war against drugs has begun in a full-fledged manner. He said that apart from snapping the supply lines of drugs the state government has put the big fishes involved in this crime behind the bars adding that now the property of the drug peddlers is being seized and destroyed.
The Chief Minister said that people of the state have wholeheartedly supported this campaign which now has been transformed into a mass movement. He said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that 700 panchayats of Fatehgarh Sahib District have signed pledges to protect their villages from the scourge of drugs. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the day is not far away when with the active support and cooperation of the people Punjab will become a completely drug Free State.
Taking a jibe on the leaders of traditional parties, the Chief Minister said that these political parties are a divided house with every leader desperate to wrest power. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these leaders have no vision for the state as they are only bothered about satiating their greed for power and vesting it by hook or crook. He said that the multiple groups in Congress and Akalis are squabbling to get the power so that they can plunder the wealth of the state whereas the incumbent government is honestly working for the development of the state and well being of its people.
The Chief Minister said that these leaders had ruined the state with their misdeeds due to which disheartened youth had left for foreign countries. However, he said that a reverse trend is now being witnessed in the state with youth of the state becoming an active partner in the socio-economic progress of Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab is heralding a new era of economic progress as now the government is not of the leaders but it is the government of the common man.
The Chief Minister said that it is unfortunate that even after more than 75 years of freedom the benefits of freedom have still not reached every household. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that those in power had misused the freedom to spread the tentacles of chitta (drugs), amass wealth by plundering the masses, encouraging corruption along with other menaces. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the dreams of martyrs have still not been realized as these people have never made any concerted effort for this.
However, the Chief Minister said that the state government is making concerted efforts to realize the dreams of martyrs to ensure that the fruits of freedom are percolated to every household. He said that now, the work of common man is being done in government offices without bribes, children from ordinary families are becoming officers, work is being done in Police Stations without corruption and others. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is committed to build a Rangla Punjab—a vibrant, inclusive, and progressive state.
The Chief Minister said that due to concerted efforts of the state government, Punjab is today witnessing a paradigm shift to a progressive Punjab from the regressive one during the previous regimes. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that though during the earlier regimes Punjab had got several negative tags, his government is committed to carving out a prosperous, progressive and happy Punjab. He said that after cleaning the mess of previous regimes for three years, the state government is now on the path of restoring the pristine glory of Punjab.
On the occasion, Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh and others were also present.
