Badal directs officials to visit villages

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today directed officials of the state administration to personally visit villages for taking stock of problems at the grass root level and offering solutions, with active support of sarpanchs and panchs.
Addressing a gathering at the oath taking ceremony of newly elected sarpanchs and panchs here, the Chief Minister said rather than confining themselves to their offices, officials must visit villages and interact with elected representatives and people to solve problems of villages.
This would not only help in strengthening democracy at the ground level but would also go a long way in ensuring comprehensive development of villages, he said.

Directing officials to accord top priority to elected Panchayat members, Badal said any complaint regarding misconduct by officials would be dealt strictly.
Meanwhile, congratulating newly elected Panchayat functionaries, the Chief Minister exhorted them to chalk out a comprehensive 'four year plan' to ensure development of villages in a planned manner.
Expressing concern over migration of population from villages towards cities, the Chief Minister said that this was a dangerous trend which needs to be checked timely.
Rs 1,700 crore was being spent on upgradation of rural road network in the state while Rs 1,607 crore would be utilised for providing potable drinking water, he said.

The Chief Minister further said in order to tap hidden potential among bright students of rural areas, the state government was laying special emphasis on strengthening rural education system.