Strongly endorsing the PM Narendra Modi’s message to end the culture of ‘Sarpanch-Pati’, Punjab Rural Development Minister Sikander Singh Maluka on Wednesday asked the officers of Rural Development Department to ensure the presence of only elected women in official meetings. Maluka appealed the better halves of elected women and their kith and kin “not to interfere in official functioning on behalf of elected women representatives as we should also extend an opportunity for independent work to them”.
He said that it was need of the hour to culminate this exercise of proxy-sarpanch being exhibited by the better halves of elected women chairperson, vice chairperson of zila parishad or block samities, sarpanches, panches, or the members. Issuing a communiqué to all officers at headquarters, District Development Panchayat Officers (DDPOs), Block Development Panchayat Officers (BDPOs), Secretary Zila Parishad, Maluka said that they would ensure the presence of only elected women in official meetings. “Entry of relatives of elected women should also be banned in all level official meetings. These directions should be executed in true spirit and in case of negligence disciplinary action would be initiated against the erring officers or officials,” he made it clear.
