Punjab Government Fulfills Promise with Financial Boost for Village Panchayats
In a landmark initiative aimed at fostering grassroots democracy and accelerating rural development, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab has commenced the distribution of substantial financial rewards to panchayats that were elected unanimously. This move directly fulfills a pre-election commitment made by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, underscoring the administration's focus on incentivizing cooperative local governance.
Ajnala Constituency: A Substantial Investment in Village Progress
On Friday, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, the AAP MLA representing Ajnala, took center stage in his constituency to personally hand over cheques worth Rs 5 lakh each to the unanimously elected panchayats of eight villages. The beneficiary villages included Bikaroor, Barlas, Hashampura, Saidpur Khurd, Shaliwal, Sheikh Bhatti, Saido Ghaji, and Panjgrain Nijjar.
MLA Dhaliwal emphasized that this initiative is a direct fulfillment of CM Mann's promise to the people of Punjab. The state government has released a total of Rs 2.30 crore for approximately 46 villages within the Ajnala constituency alone, reflecting a significant budgetary allocation for rural empowerment.
"The residents of these villages demonstrated remarkable unity by electing their panchayats unanimously. In recognition of this collective spirit, the state government is rewarding each panchayat with Rs 5 lakh," Dhaliwal stated. He clarified that the funds are to be utilized at the discretion of the panchayats for village development projects, tailored to local needs and priorities. This financial injection is expected to significantly accelerate ongoing and planned development works.
Ramdas Constituency: Widespread Distribution for Holistic Development
Simultaneously, in the neighboring Ramdas constituency, AAP MLA Jaswinder Singh Ramdas undertook a similar exercise, distributing cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to an impressive 26 unanimously elected panchayats. The extensive list of recipient villages encompassed:
- Bhadiyar, Bagrian, Lahori Mall, Muhawa, Rajatal
- Galluwal, Jathol, Bhakna Kalan, Khasa Bazar, Chicha Naudh Singh
- Heer, Maluwal, Kotli Mian Khan, Varpal Khurd, Badh
- Abadi Narainpura, Baba Tehl Singh Nagar, Dera Baba Gani Shah
- Gurbaksh Singh Wala, Jhita Chet Singh Wala, Kambo
- Kotladal Singh, Kishanpura, Mankiana, Pandori Lubana, and Rampura
MLA Ramdas echoed the sentiment that these funds empower local bodies to undertake critical development works based on their specific village priorities. On the occasion, he also engaged with residents, listening to their concerns and highlighting various state government welfare schemes.
Political Context and Broader Government Vision
Both MLAs positioned this reward scheme within the broader governance framework of the AAP administration. Dhaliwal announced that the Mann government has declared 2026 as the "Year of Development," with plans to release more grants for the all-round progress of villages. He asserted that the government is systematically fulfilling all guarantees made during the election campaign.
Drawing a sharp contrast with previous administrations, Dhaliwal criticized past governments for what he termed "empty slogans," while praising the current government's grassroots-focused approach. He expressed pride that Punjab is a pioneer in providing comprehensive public welfare facilities, including free education, free electricity, free healthcare, and free travel for its citizens.
MLA Ramdas provided further financial details, informing that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann released a total of Rs 1.30 crore specifically for the Ramdas constituency under this scheme. He reiterated that the government remains committed to visiting villages directly to raise awareness about its various pro-people initiatives.
This concerted effort by the AAP MLAs in Amritsar district marks a tangible step towards decentralizing development funds and rewarding political consensus at the village level, setting a potential precedent for local governance incentives in the state.
