Faridkot, January 11, 2019: The District level oath-taking ceremony for the newly elected Panches, Sarpanches, Zila Parishad & Block Samiti members of Faridkot district was today held at local grain market. The Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Punjab, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi was Chief Guest on the occasion. The function was also attended by the MLA Faridkot Mr. Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon as the special guest.
In his address on the occasion, Rana Sodhi said that today is a red letter day in the annals of democracy that all the Panches, Sarpanches, Block Samiti and Zila Parishad members belonging to al the panchayats of District Faridkot are taking an oath of their office. He also said that there would be no dearth of funds for the development of villages on all parameters. He also divulged that the Union Government headed by the Congress party had passed a law pertaining to giving more rights to the panchayats in 1992. Giving an example of village Seechewal in Jalandhar and village Sakkanwali in Sri Muktsar Sahib, the minister said that both these villages have been developed as model villages by their respective panches and sarpanches.
Rana Sodhi further added that the Punjab Government led by the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh in a historic decision has given representation to women in the panchayats and the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to the extent of more than 50 per cent. He also said that it is owing to the visionary approach of the Chief Minister that since taking over, approximately 1400 acres of panchayat land has been freed from the illegal encroachments and an increase of Rs. 50 crore annually has been registered in the income from the auction of panchayat land. He also elaborated that the state government has commenced special functions to commemorate the 550th Gurpurb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He exhorted the people to take part in these functions in large numbers and spread the message of the universal brotherhood of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Addressing on the occasion, MLA Faridkot Mr. Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon welcomed the cabinet minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi and congratulated the newly elected panchayat representatives especially those elected unanimously. The SSP Mr. Raj Bachan Singh Sandhu elaborated in a comprehensive manner regarding the DAPO campaign being run by the Punjab Government against drugs.