Chandigarh, March 28: The Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Minster S. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal during a maiden meeting here today with the officials of the department gave a clear cut message of Zero Tolerance to corrupt practices. Mr. Dhaliwal said that Gram Sabha is the strongest pillar of rural development which should be strengthened and directed the officers to call Garm Sabha in all the villages of the state on 26th June, 2022.
The Rural Development Minister said that proper participation of people in the Gram Sabhas should be ensured. He said that the all out awareness campaign should be carried out in the villages about the importance of Gram Sabhas through the various publicity mediums. He further said that posters should be properly put in the villages about the coming Gram Sabha and timely arrangements should be made for this meeting of Gram Sabha.
S. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that all development works in the villages should be executed with proper planning and drawings from the technical branches. He said that the minimum durability of development works should be 25 years; only quality material should be used for carrying out development works. ‘If the estimates and drawings of development works of villages are not up to mark officers of the technical branches would also be held responsible,’ added Dhaliwal.
The Rural Development Minister said that the main agenda of the AAP Government in the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is to make Punjab corruption free and provide hassle free services to the people. He warned officials not to indulge in any sort of malpractices or ask for commission from any Sarpanch. ‘If direct or indirect share of any official found in material such as interlocking tiles,bricks, cement, etc. which is used for the development works of villages would not be spared,’ said Dhaliwal.
S. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal called for participation of all the Zila Parishid and Block Samitee Chairmans and members during his meetings in the districts and blocks regarding development works irrespective of any political affiliation. He also directed the officials to carry out all the development works without any political pressure or discrimination.
The Rural Development Minister also asked the officials to make a draft of vacant posts of Block Development officers and other employees so that these posts could be filled on priority.
Prominent present in the meeting included Mr. Rahul Bhandari Principal Secretary Rural Development, Manpreet Singh Chatwal Director, TPS Phoolka Joint Development Commissioner and Additional Deputy Commissioners Development and other senior officers of the department.
