Punjab Public Works and Power Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO administered the oath of office to the newly elected Panchs of the district in Mohali today. In his address, he appealed to all the Panchayats to set aside any factionalism that might have arisen during the Panchayat elections, and to work together for the development and welfare of their villages.
Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh emphasized that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab government has demonstrated a positive change for paving the way for contesting Panchayat elections without party symbols this time. This approach aims to eliminate factionalism and focus attention and energy on addressing fundamental issues, he added.
The Minister highlighted that being elected by the people to any position, whether as a Panch, Sarpanch, Councilor, or MLA, is the greatest blessing from God. “The people have entrusted them with the power of the pen and seal, which comes with a significant responsibility to use wisely”, said the Cabinet Minister while reminding the newly elected Panchs that the pen is mightier than the sword and should be used for the development of the village and the welfare of its people.
Minister Harbhajan Singh also noted that the inclusion of Panchayat Raj in the 11th Schedule of the Constitution in 1994 brought democracy to the village level through the smallest unit of democracy, the Panchayat. He said that the Gram Panchayats have been given the right to work on 29 subjects, making it their duty to rise above all kinds of factionalism and animosity and work for the welfare of the village and its residents.
During the ceremony, Minister Harbhajan Singh called Panch Bandna of Bhankharpur and Panch Manpreet Kaur of Dhadak Kalan to the stage to motivate the women power while administering the oath to the Panches as 50 percent women elected during these Panchayat elections. Meanwhile, Malvinder Singh Kang, Lok Sabha member from Sri Anandpur Sahib, highlighted the significance of Parliament as the largest unit and Gram Panchayat as the smallest unit of the country's democracy.
He emphasized that while Parliament makes decisions for the welfare of the entire country, the Panchayat makes decisions for the welfare of its village. He described the newly elected Panchs and Sarpanchs as the glorious soldiers of democracy, responsible for village development works, managing youth power, preparing sports grounds, maintaining schools, and undertaking charitable works like health centers.
He urged them to embrace every resident of the village and especially help in raising the standard of living of the poor and needy. Earlier, MLA Kulwant Singh in his welcome speech congratulated all for the peaceful Panchayat elections and encouraged them to rise above party politics and factionalism and demonstrate their commitment through their work. MLA Kuljit Singh Randhawa echoed this sentiment, stating that just as the Punjab Vidhan Sabha takes everyone along, the Gram Panchayat should also include the defeated Panchayat election candidates in every development and welfare work.
The oath-taking ceremony was attended by MP Malvinder Singh Kang, MLA Kulwant Singh, MLA Kuljit Singh Randhawa, Milkfed Chairman Narinder Singh Shergill, District Planning Committee Chairperson Er. Prabhjot Kaur, Punjab Youth Development Board Chairman Parminder Singh Goldy, and Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Harsukhinder Singh Babbi Badal. On behalf of the district administration, Deputy Commissioner Mrs. Ashika Jain, ADC Viraj S. Tidke and other senior officials welcomed the chief guest and other guests with bouquets of flowers.