The newly-elected President, Vice-President and members of Bilaspur Zila Panchayat took oath of office in presence of Urban Administration, Health and Medical Education Minister Amar Agrawal in a ceremony organised here at Zila Panchayat premises on Monday.
Addressing the newly-elected members, Agrawal said that they (Panchayat representatives) will have to give priority to social responsibilities along with development works. He said that the progress and economic development of the nation can be achieved by creating employment opportunities and creating awareness among people regarding social issues. Hence the representatives should work with interest in these issues.
Agrawal said that the people have entrusted their future in the hands of representatives who will have to work for the present as well as the future generation. To make Bilaspur an ideal district, the elected representatives will have to take pledge for a clean, healthy and literate Bilaspur and to work for the skill development of every youth, said Agrawal.
He further said that the local government is very important since it is in direct contact with the people who have high expectations from it. ‘The representatives will have to frame policies protecting interest of people and try to ensure that people get maximum benefit of the government policies.’ Agrawal highlighted the role of Panchayat representatives in prevention of skin diseases, diseases related to eyes and malaria.
Presiding over the programme, former Speaker of Chhattisgarh Assembly Dharamlal Kaushik said that 78 percent of the total area of the State is rural and the Panchayat representatives have the responsibility of development. ‘They should work at tandem with the experienced administrative officers to develop Bilaspur as an ideal district. They should decide the priorities for solving the problems in the villages.’
MlA Badridhar Diwan and newly elected President of Zila Panchayat, Deepak Sahu also expressed their views on the occasion. Divisional Commissioner Sonmoni Borah said that the administration is determined to execute policies and schemes. Bilaspur District Collector Siddharth Komal Singh Pardeshi congratulated the members and said that development works will be carried out in coordination with them. CEO of Zila Panchayat, Sarveshwar Narendra Bhure proposed a vote of thanks.