Bathinda, June 24 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced a five-fold increase in the honorarium of sarpanches, raising it from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 per month from August 15.

At a Sarpanch Milni in Bathinda, the Chief Minister said sarpanches serve villages day and night and deserve dignity and respect for their invaluable contribution.

Emphasising that the development of villages is the foundation of the state’s progress, he assured that there is no shortage of funds for rural development and urged sarpanches to ensure transparent utilisation of public money while leading collective efforts to build a prosperous Punjab.

CM Mann said previous governments had promised an honorarium of Rs 1,200 to sarpanches, but the promise was never fulfilled, and they had to run from pillar to post to get it.

He added that his government ensured an honorarium of Rs 2,000, which will now be enhanced to Rs 10,000 per month.

The Chief Minister said panchayats are the foundation of democracy because they possess immense strength and their decisions are respected and followed by the entire village. He stressed that it is the bounden duty of sarpanches to safeguard the interests of villagers and fulfil their aspirations.

He noted that around 70 per cent of the country’s population resides in villages, which is why Panchayati Raj Institutions are regarded as the lighthouse of democracy.

Mann said these institutions act as catalysts in delivering the benefits of the state government’s pro-people, development-oriented schemes at the grassroots.

While policies are framed by the government, sarpanches and panches play a major role in implementing them on the ground, he added.

–IANS

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