FATEHGARH SAHIB: 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.